From the Same Nets to Opposite Teams: Shivam Dube’s India vs Saurabh Netravalkar’s USA

When India take on the USA in their opening match of the T20 World Cup, the spotlight will naturally be on the contest between a cricketing giant and an emerging nation. But beneath the surface of this fixture lies a beautifully layered story one that began years ago on the same practice pitches in Mumbai, under the watchful eye of the same coach.

Shivam Dube and Saurabh Netravalkar, now opponents on the world stage, were both moulded at Satish Samant’s SCA (Sanjeevani Cricket Academy). Two very different careers, two different destinations, but a shared foundation.

Shivam Dube’s journey has been defined by resilience. A tall, powerful left-hander with the ability to clear any boundary, Dube spent his formative years grinding it out at Satish Samant’s academy. Those early days weren’t about glamour or big crowds they were about repetition, discipline, and learning to trust his strength. The academy played a key role in sharpening his all-round skills and mental toughness, qualities that later helped him fight his way through Mumbai cricket, the IPL, and finally into India’s T20 setup. Today, Dube is valued for his ability to change games in a matter of overs, a role that demands confidence and composure.

Saurabh Netravalkar’s path, meanwhile, took a turn few could have predicted. A member of India’s victorious 2012 Under-19 World Cup squad, Netravalkar also trained under Satish Samant during his developmental years. He had talent, technique, and temperament yet life had other plans. Choosing academics alongside cricket, he eventually moved to the United States, where he balanced a career in software engineering with his love for the game. What followed was remarkable: steady improvement, leadership responsibility, and eventually becoming the face of USA cricket’s bowling attack.

Now, years later, the two will walk out in different colours but with shared memories of early-morning nets, fitness drills, and lessons learned at SCA. For Satish Samant, it is a moment of quiet pride seeing two of his students reach the global stage, even if they stand on opposite sides of the pitch.

When the match begins, Shivam Dube will represent India, carrying the weight of expectation and the roar of millions. Saurabh Netravalkar will lead a young USA side eager to challenge the established order. The competition will be intense, but the backstory adds warmth and depth to the occasion.
Cricket has a way of creating such full-circle moments. From the same academy to the biggest stage in world cricket, Dube and Netravalkar’s journeys remind us that there is no single path to success. Different choices, different countries yet the same roots.

As India face the USA, it won’t just be a game of bat and ball. It will be a quiet tribute to grassroots coaching, shared beginnings, and a mentor whose influence now stretches across continents.