From Indian domestic stars to ex-Black Cap Corey Anderson, meet USA’s T20 World Cup squad

Co-hosts United States of America (USA) on Friday
named their 15-member squad
for the 2024 T20 World Cup, slated to be held from 1 June in USA and West Indies. There are a few notable, well-known faces in the squad led by Monank Patel, whereas some others like Unmukt Chand and Smit Patel, who were part of India’s U19 World Cup-winning side in 2012, were absent.

One of the most familiar faces in the USA squad include former New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson. Anderson had quit New Zealand cricket in 2020, and in 2023, he had become eligible to play for USA in international cricket.

T20 World Cup 2024 | 
Complete squads of all teams

There are a few faces in the USA squad who have played Ranji Trophy in the past. So, who are those players? We take a look at them, plus Anderson:

Monank Patel

Monank Patel, the captain of the USA cricket team, was born in Gujarat on 1 May, 1993. He has played for Gujarat in the under-16 and under-18 categories. In 2010, Patel received a green card and completed a permanent move to the USA in 2016, and is currently settled in New Jersey.

The 31-year-old has played for MI New York in Major League Cricket as well as MI Emirates in the ILT20 tournament.

Milind Kumar

Milind Kumar is a Delhi-born cricketer who has played for Delhi, Sikkim and Tripura in the Indian domestic circuit. Milind came into the limelight during the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy season, when he ended as the top run-getter that season. Milind, then playing for Sikkim and finished with 1,331 runs from 14 innings at an average of 121.

Not long after, he shifted base to the United States in search of better opportunities. In 2021,the 33 year-old played for the Philadelphians in the Minor Cricket League. Milind was also part of the Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL. The right-handed batter has also played for Texas Super Kings in the Major League Cricket tournament.

Harmeet Singh

Harmeet Singh, a bowling all-rounder, was born in Mumbai on 7 September, 1992. Harmeet was part of the India squad in two editions of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup, in 2010 and 2012. In the 2012 edition, the left-arm orthodox bowler picked up six wickets from four matches at an economy rate of 3.02.

Between 2009 and 2020, Harmeet played 31 First-Class matches for Mumbai and Tripura combined, taking 87 wickets and scoring 733 runs.

Harmeet was also in the news during the 2013 IPL spot-fixing campaign. Harmeet, playing for Rajasthan Royals at the time, had been allegedly approached by a bookie but failed to strike a deal since Harmeet was too young. The BCCI then investigated Harmeet but the player was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Much like Milind, Harmeet migrated to the USA to play Minor League Cricket. He has plied trade in Major League Cricket too, with the Seattle Orcas.

Saurabh Netravalkar

Saurabh Netravalkar is a Mumbai-born cricketer who bowls left-arm fast medium. Saurabh was part of the India U19 cricket team in the 2010 World Cup, which featured the likes of future India stars KL Rahul, Jaydev Unadkat and Mayank Agarwal.

Saurabh took 30 wickets in just six games at the 2008-09 Cooch Behar Trophy. In the 2013-14 Ranji Trophy season, he made his First-Class debut for Mumbai, against Karnataka. That was the only FC match he played in India and he took three wickets in that game.

Saurabh, however, quit cricket to pursue computer science at Cornell University in USA. In 2018, the 32-year-old got called up by the USA national team and captained the team for the Regional Super 50 tournament in West Indies as well as the 2018 ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament.

Saurabh was picked up by Washington Freedom in March 2023 in the MLC players’ draft.

Nisarg Patel

Nisarg Patel was born in Gujarat on 20 April, 1988. Patel, however, has not played any form of professional cricket in India. He spent seven years in England playing as a semi-professional cricketer before moving to the United States seeking for better playing chances.

In 2018, Nisarg was included in the USA squad for the ICC World Cricket League Division three tournament, but would only make his USA debut a year later in a T20I against Bermuda in August 2019. Nisarg has played for Seattle Orcas in MLC.

Corey Anderson

Corey Anderson is well-known figure international cricket. Between 2012 and 2018, Anderson played for New Zealand senior team a total 93 times, taking 90 wickets and scoring 2,277 runs across formats.

Anderson, however, quit New Zealand cricket in 2020 and signed a three-year deal with Major League Cricket in the USA. Anderson has played for San Francisco Unions in MLC, most notably scoring a 52-ball 91 against MI New York last year.

Anderson only made his USA debut against Canada in April. He has played just two matches for USA as a result, with his best effort with the bat being a knock of 55 against Canada in his second match on 13 April.