• Loading stock data...
Monday, April 21, 2025

U.S. Cricket Stuns Goliath Behind Its Star, an Ivy League Software Engineer

  • Team USA upset Pakistan, one of cricket’s superpowers, in overtime.
  • One of its best players, Saurabh Netravalkar, has a day job at Oracle.
ICC

The U.S. is playing in its first International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup, one of the sport’s top competitions displaying a shortened version of the game. And Team USA pulled off something similar to the “Miracle on Ice” on Thursday in Grand Prairie, Texas.

The Americans beat Pakistan, one of the sport’s top competitors, in the tournament’s version of overtime, called the Super Over. Leading the way was Saurabh Netravalkar, the lefty bowler (think: pitcher) who helped secure the victory for the U.S. His full-time job? The Cornell grad is a principal member of technical staff at Oracle, according to his LinkedIn profile.

It’s hard to put into words just how big of a deal this upset is. Pakistan will face India on Sunday in one of the biggest rivalries in all of sports. When the two squared off in October, the digital and TV audience was roughly 3.5 times larger than the Super Bowl. In Pakistan, where the team has reached the T20 Finals three times, including the last tournament in 2022, cricketers are national celebrities. In the U.S., we are just learning their names.

Oracle chimed in on social media, congratulating the team and saying it’s proud of its “very own engineering and cricket star.”

The U.S. team has all the makings of virality, especially when it comes to power hitter Aaron Jones, who routinely sends it out of the park.

“Hopefully tonight’s innings will probably open the eyes of those who don’t know me or USA cricket,” Jones said after the team’s first win over Canada. “We have great players here and that we have a lot of talent here and are willing to play at the highest level for sure.”

The No. 18 Americans round out their group play with a match against India, the No. 1–ranked team in the world, on June 12, followed by Ireland on June 14.

The tournament is taking place for the first time in the U.S. and West Indies throughout the month of June, with American venues in Florida, Texas, and New York.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Apr 14, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Paige Bueckers is interviewed by ESPN after being selected with the number one overall pick to the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards

ESPN’s WNBA Coverage Mirrors the League’s Stunning Growth

“I don’t think we stand still in our coverage of women’s sports,” says Rowe.
Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) throws during the second half of the College Football Playoff first round game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Dec. 22, 2024. Ohio State won 42-17.

Former Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava Will Transfer to UCLA

The news ends a weeklong saga for the embattled quarterback.
Mar 16, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrates with guard Isaiah Joe (11) after score in the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum.

Unorthodox OKC: The Thunder Redefined Tanking to Become NBA’s Best

A rebuild years in the making has OKC in the driver’s seat.
Mar 13, 2020; Augusta, GA, USA; The front entrance at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Friday morning. The Masters Tournament has been postponed due to coronavirus concerns.
opinion

What’s It Like to Play Augusta? A Day on the World’s Most..

Inside a round at the most exclusive club in the world.

Featured Today

Dec 9, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) watches as center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates after making a three point basket to clinch a win against the Toronto Raptors near the end of the fourth quarter at Scotiabank Arena

Same Owner, New Knicks: New York’s Remarkable Rebound

The franchise’s renaissance didn’t happen overnight.
Masters
April 18, 2025

Why The Masters Quietly Cracked Down on Ticket Resellers

Insiders expect big changes are coming to ticketing at Augusta National.
exclusive
April 16, 2025

Inside Nico Iamaleava’s Ugly Breakup With Tennessee

Iamaleava’s representatives claim to FOS he didn’t push for more NIL money.
Jul 29, 2024; Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France; France center Dominique Malonga (14) and guard Marine Johannes (23) celebrate after defeating Canada during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy
April 13, 2025

‘Has to Change’: The WNBA’s International Player Problem

As more global stars arrive, the “prioritization” rule is causing tension.
Jun 13, 2018; Moscow, Russia; A general view of a beer stand inside of Luschniki Stadium one day prior to the start of the FIFA World Cup 2018.

Saudi Arabia Says No Alcohol at 2034 World Cup

Saudi Arabia won’t allow alcohol anywhere during the 2034 World Cup.
August 30, 2024

Premier League Transfer Spending Has Already Topped $2 Billion As Deadline Looms

Saudi Pro League teams haven’t yet matched their English counterparts.
January 13, 2025

Gavin Newsom Reveals Status of 2028 Olympics As Los Angeles Wildfires Roar

Gavin Newsom says there’s a “Marshall Plan” to rebuild Los Angeles.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

This week, Two-time Super Bowl Champion and CBS NFL analyst Logan Ryan joins us to talk the business of sports on our third installment of Portfolio Players.
Paralympics Tiktok
August 25, 2024

The Wildly Successful Paralympics TikTok Account Isn’t What You Think

A cheeky TikTok account is opening the world of Paralympic sports.
August 11, 2024

Passing of the Torch: Los Angeles Set for Olympic Firsts in 2028

The city last hosted the Summer Olympics in 1984.
August 1, 2024

Saudi Arabia Submits Bold World Cup Bid That Includes a Cliffside Arena

The Saudis are proposing a new stadium in a futuristic city called Neom.
John John Florence (USA) surfs in men’s round two competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach.
July 29, 2024

Olympic Surfers Won’t Get Their Full Paris Moment

‘We’re kind of separate off on our own little thing over here.’