The USA will travel to one of India’s most famous cricket grounds on Saturday with a squad full of journeymen from India, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka. This American side tells the story of how cricket travels now. Only four players were born in the United States, all to immigrant families. The rest are first-generation arrivals, including three born in Pakistan, who bring with them skills learned on distant fields before finding a home in American colors.
With eight members of Team USA having their roots in India, Saturday’s ICC Men’s World T20 match at the Wankhede Stadium was playfully dubbed Green Card versus Aadhaar Card.
Captain Monank Patel, spinner Harmeet Singh, batsman Shubham Ranjane, Jasdeep Singh, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Milind Kumar, Saiteja Mukkamalla and veteran left-arm pacer Saurabh Netravalkar form the backbone of the India-rooted US side.
For Harmeet, Shubham and Netravalkar, this accessory carries a deeper resonance. All three are products of the Mumbai Maidans, where long days under the sun once saw them sharing space with future Indian stars like Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube, pursuing the same ambitions they now meet at the World Cup. (Read more)
