USA left-arm fast bowler Saurabh Netravalkar shared his thoughts on not being sold during the IPL 2025 mega auction. Netravalkar garnered significant attention during the 2024 T20 World Cup, where he delivered remarkable performances against formidable teams such as India and Pakistan. In a pivotal match against India, he made headlines by claiming the crucial wickets of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Having previously represented India in the Under-19 World Cup, Netravalkar entered the

IPL auction with a base price of INR 30 Lakh but ultimately went unsold, failing to attract any bids.

In an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia.com, Netravalkar expressed his understanding of the auction's competitive nature, acknowledging his initial hopes of being selected. "I am grateful to have been shortlisted in the final auction list. Naturally, the child in me had aspirations! However, the player pool was exceptionally strong, and many top players also did not secure bids, so I completely understand the situation," he stated.

The left-arm pacer, who has previously played alongside notable cricketers such as KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav, emphasized his commitment to improving his skills and returning stronger for the next auction. "I am eagerly anticipating the upcoming season, which I believe will showcase the highest quality of cricket. I will continue to work diligently to enhance my abilities and aim to come back even stronger next year," he concluded.

'India were a very well-rounded team, they deserved to win T20 World Cup': Netravalkar

The former India Under-19 cricketer, who also represented Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, relocated to the United States to study computer engineering and is currently working at Oracle.

Netravalkar also reflected on India's T20 World Cup victory, where they narrowly defeated South Africa in an exhilarating final.

The 33-year-old, who took two wickets for 18 runs against India during the group stage, remarked that India possessed a balanced team and rightfully earned the championship title.

"I understood that the match was not concluded until the final ball was bowled, and that the team would continue to fight, which they certainly did. Kudos to everyone, including the support staff! They were a very balanced team with players suited for every scenario, and they truly deserved it," Netravalkar concluded.

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