"During local matches, have often logged in for a meeting at lunch break" - Saurabh Netravalkar on juggling coding and cricket
United States of America (USA) left-arm pacer and coder Saurabh Netravalkar revealed that he often has to log in for office meetings during lunch break at local cricket matches. He credited his supportive bosses at Oracle and US Cricket for being able to manage both his job and his playing career efficiently.
32-year-old Netravalkar represented India at the Under-19 World Cup (2010) in New Zealand and was the team's highest wicket-taker. The Mumbai-born cricketer, however, could not get many opportunities at the domestic level and shifted to the US to pursue his cricketing dream.
On Thursday, June 6, the pacer played a key role in the USA's historic win over Pakistan in the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup. He claimed 2-18 with the ball and also bowled the Super Over. Pakistan needed 19 runs for victory, but Netravalkar conceded only 13 to set off celebrations in the dugout.
Speaking to news agency PTI, the left-arm pacer opened up on how he manages to juggle work and cricket.
"The best part is that I have got very supportive bosses at Oracle and I am allowed to work remotely when I am on tour, playing for the United States. So on match days, I am excused from work but then there are scheduled project meetings which warrants my presence and then I work my practice schedule accordingly," Netravalkar said.
"I would also thank US Cricket board as they also are flexible if I have meetings lined up. I can tell you that when I play local matches or club games in the United States, I have often logged in for a meeting at the lunch break and people have been very accommodating," he went on to add.
The India-born cricketer works in the Oracle text team and is a coder, who works on SQL and C (programming languages).
Saurabh Netravalkar got two big wickets in the T20 World Cup match against Pakistan
Netravalkar got the big wickets of Mohammad Rizwan (9) and Iftikhar Ahmed (18) in the T20 World Cup match against Pakistan. Rizwan was squared up by a beauty that moved away and took the edge which was brilliantly snapped up by Steven Taylor at slip.
The US left-arm pacer returned to Iftikhar Ahmed (18) at a key juncture in the match. Netravalkar trapped Iftikhar leg before with a smart slower ball that dipped sharply.
Having made his T20I debut in 2019, the 32-year-old pacer has claimed 29 wickets in 29 matches at an average of 20.79 and an economy rate of 6.62.