Cricket Huddle Insider🐧#77

Welcome to Cricket Huddle Insider where we decode cricket to you like a toddler cracks your iphone’s password. We are sure cricket has taken a backseat this week with Olympics taking the front, but besides, here is what we’ve got for you this edition.

• 🧠 Insights

• 🍪 Favorite Finds

• 🌐 From CH Insiders

• ☕ Insiders of the Week

So, let's get right into it then - leg stump, please!

🧠 INSIGHTS

This week we had the privilege of talking to USA Cricketer and MLC Season 2 Winner Saurabh Netrawalkar.

Saurabh has been the mainstay of USA Cricket bowling for the past couple of years but rose to prominence during the 2024 T20 World Cup. His bowling spells against Pakistan & India in the group stages made sure that USA qualified to the next stage.

We talked to him about World Cup, his preparation, mindset and MLC season 2.

QUESTION

Welcome Saurabh! I want to start with the USA’s World Cup Campaign. What an amazing campaign USA had. How was the experience playing in front of 30,000 fans with music blaring in your ears ?

ANSWER

So obviously the experience was surreal.

The first game USA vs Canada was a full house in Dallas. Initially, I will admit that I will admit that I got overawed by the situation seeing so much crowd as I did not know what was happening. Maybe it was the adrenaline. But as the game got on, I got used to it and gained more confidence. Also, I had the experience of Major League Cricket in the first season which had decent crowds, which helped us understand what to expect.

QUESTION

Thanks for sharing. Coz I always wonder, with the music playing so loud how are cricketers able to concentrate on the game. But when it comes to International games like these, what does it take for you to believe in yourself especially when you are playing India, and Pakistan in the group stages?

ANSWER

So to summarize from my point of view, firstly it’s accepting the fact that there are players better than you already playing. Acceptance is important. You need to know what your strengths and limitations are.

So you have to stick to your strengths and know that your limitations will be exploited. As long as you have the clarity it makes things easier to execute your plans. You will do your best only if you detach yourself from seeing who you are bowling to and just bowl what you have planned.

Now if they still hit you then you know they are just better than you. Respect them for those shots and then get feedback as to what can be done to improve to get better at this level.

QUESTION

Great attitude. So where is the most difficult part happen adjusting to International Cricket?

ANSWER

I think Its the mental side of the game. So the top players, hold their nerves better than anyone else. They handle the pressure better than anyone else and get through situations in the game.

Coz in every T20 game, there always are key moments. And those key moments need clarity. And they need you to hold your nerves under pressure. And those moments define the difference between a win and a loss. The difference between you getting out, having survived the ball, and hitting a boundary later.

To understand which are those key moments, the senior players understand it better than anyone else and anticipate them before anyone else. The foresight comes after playing the volume of matches and the scenarios you are practicing for. Coz you need to have an open mind at that point of time. As learning from them is a true experience.

QUESTION

So, then what’s your biggest learning from this 2024 World Cup?

ANSWER

So a couple of things. One is I got a feel of how top teams play and how the atmosphere looks like playing day in and day out in front of these crowds. Win or loose you need to come back strongly into the tournament. Other thing is that how conditions change throughout the tournament so you cant come up with the same thing again and again and need to keep reinventing yourself because nowadays there is a lot of video analysis happening so teams will be ready for you. So you gotta be prepared to change, cant keep the same plans as you went in.

QUESTION

A lot of young cricketers in US are taking inspiration from you but as someone coming up the ranks what are the things they can do to upskill themselves and get ready for the next stage ?

ANSWER

I can answer from my experience. Have as many heroes as possible. Observe them day in and day out. I used to have Wasim Akram and Glenn Mcgrath and I used to just observe what they do in different situations. I watched a lot of their games, watched them live if possible. You can copy them initially. See what works for you in your own game and try and incorporate that. Of course work with your coach. But bowl. I used to bowl hour and half quite regularly. Coz its just about volume. Think like a captain even if you are not the captain so your mind also keeps learning.

Wow! Some amazing knowledge bombs you’ve thrown today Saurabh. Thank you very much. This has been fabulous.

The Full interview is available on Cricket Huddle Insiders Membership. You can apply to join the waitlist here.

🍪OUR FAVORITE FINDS

Read | Anshuman Gaekwad knew to put guts over glory

Read | A century for Sir Frank

Read | The Australia USA Cricket Crossover

Read | From managing Bumrah to Shami’s comeback

Read | The life of a cricket groundskeeper: ‘It’s hard

Read | Logo on Hundred ball is blamed for making batting hard

+ FROM CH INSIDERS

Several new individuals became Cricket Huddle Insiders. We are adding more and more things. Apply to join the waitlist.

For those who have applied in the past - we are following a process of onboarding insiders. So bear with us as we get through the list.

📷INSIDER PIC OF THE WEEK

Kishan might have smelled the coffee and is deciding to go back playing Domestic Cricket! Regardless good call!

That’s a wrap!

We made this newsletter for you by hopping down some of our favorite cricketing rabbit holes. Stay thirsty. See you next week. Thanks for sticking with us this week—we’ll catch up with you on Monday.

Peace ✌️

ENJOYED THE NEWSLETTER? | TELL A FRIEND

Forward it to a friend ↗️, and let them know they can subscribe here. Have a suggestion on how we can make it better - send us an email.

STAY IN THE KNOW

WhatsApp | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Contact