‘The  plan was to mix it up’ – Saurabh Netravalkar on working out Kohli and Rohit dismissals in T20 World Cup 2024

As Netravalkar claimed the wickets of skipper Rohit Sharma and fellow opener Virat Kohli with the new ball, the Men in Blue’s innings got off to a dismal start. In June, the USA made an outstanding debut in the T20 World Cup, defeating both Pakistan, the defending champions, and going toe-to-toe with some of the best teams in the world of cricket.

Saurabh Netravalkar, the previous hero of the India Under-19 World Cup, was one of the most noteworthy players for the USA at the main tournament.

At the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on June 12, the USA and eventual winners India squared off in a Group A match. Invited to bat first, the debutants puffed and puffered their way to 110/8 in 20 overs on a slow-moving wicket.

When Kohli pursued a delivery wide outside off-stump, it grabbed the outside edge and went through to wicketkeeper Andries Gous, dismissing him off the second ball of the innings. As the ball took the leading edge and eventually found its way into the clutches of Harmeet Singh, who had to run back from mid-off, Rohit was out of the game in the third over.

Netravalkar discussed his bowling strategy against two of the top hitters in contemporary cricket in an exclusive chat with.

The pitch in New York helped bowlers who bowl quickly. Arshdeep, a left-arm seamer, took four wickets in the first innings while we fielded second. I had a clear opportunity to observe his actions, and my thoughts aligned with his. to achieve those lengths and, as you say, exploit the opportunity. You have no influence over the outcome. A nice ball can also be smashed for a six by Virat Kohli. Netravalkar remarked, “I’m happy that I had the advantage and took the wicket.

In response to a question concerning Rohit’s dismissal, the left-arm seamer claimed that the veteran batsman had anticipated an inswinger but was hit by an outswinger.

“In-swing and out-swing are the two balls I have. How to throw things off so he won’t anticipate the delivery. That was the strategy. He was probably anticipating an in-swinger, but I gave him a little out-swinger there, giving him a lead edge. However, the pitch was such that the ball came to him more slowly than he anticipated and stopped on him. The wicket has two paces.

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Nothing like it, I believe, because that could have continued until six on any other day. I guess it was just a terrific day for me,” Netravalkar said.