In a format as unpredictable as T20 cricket, fortune could outweigh familiarity: Netravalkar

From refused handshakes and skipped trophy presentations to the forfeiting of fixtures, India–Pakistan cricket has increasingly become a long-dwindling tale of controversies. Amid such strained times, an international side featuring a mix of Indian- and Pakistani-origin players is set to face both India and Pakistan for the second successive Men’s T20 World Cup.

Saurabh Netravalkar, the United States of America’s leading wicket-taker, insisted that the geopolitical fissures between India and Pakistan have never seeped into the USA dressing room.

“From our perspective, we are a group of people from multiple countries across the globe and what brings us together is the love of the game,” Netravalkar said here on Friday, ahead of USA’s tournament opener against host India.

“We are proud to represent the USA and that’s what we focus on. We don’t think about anything else.”

With the USA having limited exposure against Test-playing nations, India captain Suryakumar Yadav had described the Americans as an unknown quantity. Responding to that assessment, Sanjay Krishnamurthi — one of the few homegrown cricketers in the USA squad — felt the element of surprise would be minimal in the age of technology.

“We are probably more unknown to them (India) but there is quite a bit of videos going around, so I think they would have done their homework as ever. We have done our homework as well on them and I think it is going to be an even contest in that point of view,” Sanjay said.

“They play a lot more than us and it is their home conditions as well, so we are going to give it our best.”

Netravalkar, however, felt that in a format as unpredictable as T20 cricket, fortune could outweigh familiarity.

“The novelty factor would be true because they will have less data on us, but obviously they are far more skilful and experienced and they are one of the best teams in the world. That is a challenge for us to step up and see what best we can do,” he said.

“But the format itself has some kind of a luck factor. So if the right guys build the right partnership or we have the few key moments go for us then we can give a good fight.”