Former Delhi batsman and top run-getter of the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy, Milind Kumar found a place in the United States of America squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which starts on June 1. The USA, co-hosting the event alongside the West Indies, announced that its 15-member squad would be led by Gujarat-born Monank Patel. Right-handed batsman Milind, who scored 1331 runs in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy season, previously played for Delhi for seven seasons and then migrated to the USA in search of better opportunities.
A Delhi-born cricketer, Milind played for the state, Sikkim and Tripura in India before migrating to the US.
The 33-year-old batsman also played for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.
During the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy, he finished as the highest run-scorer of the season playing for Sikkim before making his US cricket debut in 2021 with The Philadelphians in the Minor Cricket League.
Former Mumbai left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh has also made the side.
The 31-year-old Mumbai-born player played for the Indian team during the U-19 World Cup in 2012, besides playing for Rajasthan Royals in 2013 and state cricket for Tripura.
He made his American cricket debut in 2021 and led Seattle Thunderbolts in Minor League Cricket.
Saurabh Nethravalkar, another Mumbai-born pacer, played in the 2010 U19 World Cup, the group in which stars like KL Rahul, Jaydev Unadkat and Mayank Agarwal represented the senior Indian team.
However, a pair of renowned Indians and members of the 2012 U-19 World Cup-winning team – Unmukt Chand (skipper) and Smit Patel (wicketkeeper) – failed to find a place in the squad.
Another familiar face in the squad is Corey Anderson, a former New Zealand all-rounder who represented the Black Caps in the 2015 ODI World Cup and the T20 World Cups in 2014 and 2016.
He moved to the US in 2023 and made his debut with the side in a T20I against Canada last month.
Pakistani-born pacer Ali Khan is also part of the squad, having been recruited by Kolkata Knight Riders in 2020.
The US will start their campaign against neighbors Canada here on the opening day, having also been trounced in Group A along with India, Pakistan and Ireland.
US squad for T20 World Cup: Monank Patel (c & wk), Aaron Jones (vc), Andries Gous, Corey Anderson, Ali Khan, Harmeet Singh, Jessy Singh, Milind Kumar, Nisarg Patel, Nitish Kumar, Noshtush Kenjige, Saurabh Netravalkar, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Steven Taylor and Shayan Jahangir.
Topics mentioned in this article