When a wellness trend has the backing of Kim Kardashian, it’s almost guaranteed to trend. The 45-year-old entrepreneur has relaunched energy drink Update as a co-founder and this time, she’s swapping caffeine for something far less known to energy drink-lovers: paraxanthine
Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda officially shared their first pictures as husband and wife. New Delhi: Actors Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda are officially married, and the star couple has shared their first pictures as husband and wife
Rashmika Mandanna may have walked in glowing like a goddess, but we need a serious moment for Vijay Deverakonda, because that groom did not come to play. Draped in a traditional ivory dhoti and angavastram edged in rich red, Vijay leaned fully into a temple-royalty aesthetic
During the meeting, a majority of the political parties commended the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the peaceful and smooth conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. Additionally, most parties also submitted formal requests urging the ECI to conduct
Security has been significantly strengthened across all major tourist resorts in the Kashmir Valley to ensure that visitors feel safe and comfortable during their stay. The tourism industry of the Kashmir region is hopeful that the upcoming spring season will bring a major surge in visitors
Hillary Clinton will on Thursday appear before a panel of the US House of Representatives that is investigating the crimes of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The former Democratic secretary of state and presidential candidate recently agreed, along with her husband, former President Bill Clinton
A groundbreaking study led by Professor Kenneth Payne at King’s College London has revealed a chilling discrepancy between human strategic caution and artificial intelligence. In a series of simulated geopolitical crises, three of the world’s most advanced large language models (LLMs)—GPT-5.2
The government has mandated the sale of petrol with up to 20% ethanol and a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95 across all States and Union Territories from April 1, 2026. The oil ministry in a February 17 notification, said, "the central government hereby directs that oil companies shall
T20 World Cup: Mumbai-born USA pacer Netravalkar awaits emotional reconnect with Wankhede
As the T20 World Cup kicks off at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Saurabh Netravalkar, a fast bowler born in Mumbai and now representing the USA, can't help but feel a surge of nostalgia. His path has been unconventional—transitioning from cricket in India to delving into computer science in the States and finding his way back to the international scene.
New Delhi, Mumbai-born USA pacer Saurabh Netravalkar has visualised his full circle moment when he takes the field for his side's T20 World Cup opener against India at the Wankhede Stadium on February 7, a ground where it all began for him as a cricketer before leaving 'home' for an alternate career.
The 34-year-old played a first-class game for Mumbai alongside the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Shardul Thakur back in 2013 but he was not able to graduate to the Indian team after representing the country in the 2010 U-19 World Cup.
Netravalkar eventually decided to pursue higher studies in the United States after getting an offer from the reputed Cornell University for a master's degree in computer science in 2015.
Considering the path he chose for himself, playing cricket again was not even a thought in Netravalkar's mind but fate ensured that he reunited with the sport that he started playing on the busy streets of Mumbai.
Now an integral part of the USA squad and a star of their 2024 T20 World Cup campaign, Netravalkar reckons emotions might get the better of him when he steps on to the revered turf of Wankhede.
"I wouldn't know how I would react there. But it is an emotional moment, for sure. Kind of like a full circle moment because I started playing cricket in Mumbai and gave up on the sport and moved to the US and never even expected to play cricket again. International (cricket) wasn't even a thought," he told PTI from Colombo where the USA squad is training.
"So, it's like a second innings, that cricket gave me that chance and brought me back to Mumbai. So, in that sense, it's nostalgic and emotional, but it's not playing on my mind per se."
Has he visualised playing at the venue in front of his family and friends?
"Kind of, yes. I wouldn't say in this particular way, but as a kid, obviously, growing up in Mumbai, I have always, since I started playing cricket, dreamt about playing for the country and hopefully at Wankhede. We've been training at Wankhede since our under-15 days.
"Very grateful that this opportunity has come about whilst playing for the USA. My family and friends will be there. So yeah, I am looking forward to giving my best effort," said the left-arm pacer, who continues to juggle between cricket and his coding job at IT giant Oracle.
Need to have multiple plans in India
Batting friendly conditions in the sub-continent make the job much tougher for the bowlers. In the previous edition held in the USA and Caribbean, the bowlers had it slightly easier because of the conditions.Netravalkar, who is known for generating swing with the new ball and yorkers in the death overs, has got his plans ready for the three group games in India and one against Pakistan in Colombo.
"On flatter wickets, more than the skills, obviously, you have your weapons and you keep developing different kinds of slower balls and hope that the ball swings with the new ball. That is unpredictable as well. It depends on the conditions. If you're playing under lights, dew becomes a factor here. So, we also need to practice bowling with the wetter ball.
"Yeah, and then you just have your plan A, plan B ready. So, I think we picked a good location to train at (three weeks in Sri Lanka). We also have two warm-up games at D.Y. Patil before we play the opening game of the World Cup. So, we will have exposure to flatter wickets and yeah, it will be a different challenge for me especially," said Netravalkar.
Graph of USA cricket has gone up since 2024 success
Having stunned Pakistan in their maiden World Cup, USA exceeded expectations by qualifying for the Super 8 stage in 2024. Considering that stellar run, expectations are higher this time from a squad made up mainly of Indian and Pakistan origin cricketers.Though there is still a long way to go in terms of having world-class cricketing infrastructure all around the US, Netravalkar is pleased with the upward graph of the game in the country.
'I think we've gone up, you could say for sure. You can see eight or nine or even more of our cricketers are getting gigs in franchise leagues around the world. So, that is a good benchmark to sort of evaluate that our skills are being appreciated.
"Major league cricket as well, a lot of local players were in the top run getters, top wicket takers. We have 19, 20, 21-year-olds also making the team. So I think the system is slowly forming. I would still say we have a long way to go (in terms of building infrastructure throughout the USA). But definitely, we can see the progress since the last World Cup," he added.
Netravalkar on his vegan lifestyle
Netravalkar's remarkable clarity of thought can be linked to his lifestyle. He has been vegan for a while and that made a positive impact on his cricket and more importantly life in general."As a person, it's been transformative. I'm trying to become a better person and that is unrelated to cricket. Just trying to learn more, delve deep into philosophy, spirituality, good habits, sustainability, climate change.
"Trying to do the best of what is expected of us as a human being, firstly. And it automatically, I mean, if you're healthy and you're fit and you train hard, it's going to obviously affect your skills and it's going to get better," he added. PTI
Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
Source: EconomicTimes
Related Posts: ICC unveils Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 full schedule Cartel violence fuels doubts about FIFA World Cup games in Mexico New Zealand vs Sri Lanka T20 World Cup 2026 live streaming ICC T20 WC points table Trump keeps world waiting on his plans for Iran Shanaka makes honest admission after Sri Lanka get knocked out of T20 WC 2026 PM Modi Becomes World’s First Leader to Cross 100 Million Followers on Instagram India vs Zimbabwe T20 World Cup IND vs ZIM, T20 World Cup 2026 LIVE Updates Indian GM Nihal Sarin Subject To Expletive Flip-Off Tantrum From GM Ohanyan
Their 89-run stand for the eighth wicket is behind the unbeaten 132-run stand for the ninth wicket between Belgium's Saber Zakhil and Saqlain Ali, who stitched it against Austria in 2021. Ahmedabad (Gujarat): Hard hitter Romario Shepherd and veteran all-rounder Jason Holder registered the
1 days ago
The FBI has fired additional agents who worked on an investigation into U.S. President Donald Trump, this time terminating employees who participated in the probe into the Republican's hoarding of classified documents, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday (February 25, 2026)
1 days ago
Here is the complete state-wise list of bank holidays in March 2026 to help you plan your visits in advance. Apart from regional festivals, banks across the country will also remain closed on the second and fourth Saturdays, as per the usual schedule. Check the nationwide closures first
1 days ago
Instagram said Thursday it will start alerting parents if their kids repeatedly search for terms clearly associated with suicide or self-harm. The alerts will only go to parents who are enrolled in Instagram's parental supervision program.Instagram says it already blocks such content from showing
1 days ago
Maharashtra gears up for Rajya Sabha polls on March 16 with seven seats at stake. Ruling Mahayuti claims six with 235 MLAs, leaving one for opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). In a test of unity and alliance ground with giants like Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackrey in race will MVA stand?Maharashtra
1 days ago
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the cast and creators of the hit Israeli espionage series Fauda during his two-day official visit to Israel. Jerusalem: During a two-day official visit to Israel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with several delegates
1 days ago
SSC CHSL Result 2026: The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) will soon announce the Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) Tier 1 result on its official website. Candidates who appeared for the examination will be able to check their results at ssc.gov.in once the link is activated
1 days ago
Artificial intelligence chip designer Broadcom said that it expects to sell at least 1 million chips by 2027 based on its stacked design tech, an executive told Reuters on Wednesday.The forecast, which Reuters is the first to report, marks a new product and sales target for Broadcom that could
1 days ago
Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda Wedding Photos, Videos LIVE Updates: Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna are finally ‘Mr and Mrs’. The two actors have reportedly tied the knot in Rajasthan’s Udaipur in the presence of their family members and close friends
1 days ago
His remarks came after Sri Lanka’s campaign ended in front of their home crowd at the R Premadasa Stadium, where they failed to recover from a middle-order collapse while chasing 169. Former captain Kumar Sangakkara admitted there was ‘a lot of hurt all round’ after co-hosts Sri Lanka were
1 days ago
The Supreme Court banned the publication and re-printing of a Class 8 social science textbook that included a section on “corruption in the judiciary”. The bench also directed the Union government and state education departments to ensure that all copies of the book, printed or digital
1 days ago
Urban Indians are very proud of their well-balanced thalis, which consist of rice, sabji, dal, and rotis smeared with ghee. However, nutritionists warn that this very popular dish has a very important ingredient hidden in it. According to Dr Alok Chopra
1 days ago
Many see chess as calm and patient. But sometimes, the 64 squares erupt. The latest flashpoint came during TakeTakeTake’s Titled Tuesday, where India’s Nihal Sarin faced Armenia’s Emin Ohanyan in a tense blitz battle. The endgame was razor-tight: rook vs bishop, with a pawn each
1 days ago
The women employees of digital news outlet Newslaundry on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that they will not withdraw the defamation suit against commentator Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, Bar and Bench reported. Justice Vikas Mahajan listed the matter before the joint registrar for further proceedings
1 days ago
US and Iranian officials have met in Geneva for a third round of indirect talks seen as crucial to averting conflict, with President Donald Trump threatening to strike Iran if a nuclear deal is not reached. The discussions come amid the largest US military build-up in the Middle East since the
1 days ago
Patiala House Court granted three days' custody to five Indian Youth Congress workers arrested in connection with the AI Summit protest. Police sought remand to investigate their role in "shirtless protests" and identify the printing press for T-shirts
1 days ago
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra price: The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at Rs. 1,39,999 for the 12GB + 256GB variant. It features a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display and runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra price: Samsung launched the Samsung Galaxy S26 series in
1 days ago
We used to eat out twice a month," says Marjan, who lives in Iran's second largest city, Isfahan. "Now we just can't. We have to save that money to pay the rent. For the last six years, she had been selling wooden crafts and keyrings through a page on Instagram - one of hundreds of thousands of
1 days ago
The festival of Holi in 2026 has brought joy and considerable confusion regarding holidays. Students, parents, and school administrations are uncertain whether Holi holidays will be on March 3 or 4. Many states are experiencing discrepancies between the official calendar and local beliefs
1 days ago
Bodø/Glimt stunned Europe again on Tuesday night, beating Inter Milan at San Siro to seal a sensational UEFA Champions League last-16 berth. Manchester City or Sporting now await. All this from a team that looked finished just weeks ago. Heading into their final three league-phase games
1 days ago
From elegant thandai cheesecakes to kebab festivals inspired by the colours of gulal, Kolkata is marking Holi with thoughtfully curated menus, immersive celebrations and high-energy parties. Here’s where to eat, drink and celebrate the festival in style
1 days ago
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called for "moral accountability" from public office-bearers named in the 'Epstein files', contrasting India's lack of action with international resignations. She emphasized that interacting with a convicted paedophile warrants accountability, especially for ministers
1 days ago
The United States and China have reached "stability" in their long-fractious relationship, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday (February 25, 2026) ahead of President Donald Trump's visit to the Asian power. "I think we've reached a point at least of a sort of strategic stability in the
1 days ago
Formula 1 enters a new era with complex regulations. Drivers face unusual driving styles and strategic challenges. Top teams like Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull show promise. New team Cadillac joins, and the Spanish Grand Prix moves to Madrid. Apple takes over US broadcast rights
1 days ago
The controversy comes at a delicate time as India prepares for a must-win clash against Zimbabwe on Thursday. A heated political debate has surfaced in Maharashtra following India's recent struggles in the T20 World Cup 2026. Prominent leaders from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM)
1 days ago
The Congress on Thursday criticised the speech delivered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Israeli Parliament a day earlier, claiming that it “diminished India’s moral standing”. In a social media post, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh described the speech as an “unabashed defence” of
1 days ago
Akshay Kumar is tapping into his classic comedic roots with the release of "Ram Ji Aake Bhala Karenge," the first song from his upcoming horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla. Mumbai: The first song from Akshay Kumar's upcoming film Bhooth Bangla has been unveiled
1 days ago
