The 2024 T20 Cricket World Cup has already served up quite the shock, and the USA’s Monank Patel was a key part of that.
The USA’s T20 captain guided his side to a famous win over Pakistan in Dallas, Texas, which goes down as one of the biggest surprises in cricket history.
4
He scored 50 as the USA matched Pakistan’s score of 159 to take the game to a super over, which America won in front of their jubilant fans.
Patel is a 31-year-old wicket-keeper born in Gujarat who has lived in the US since 2016.
When he moved there, it’s hard to imagine he ever thought he would play in a World Cup, never mind beat one of the world’s best sides.
What is even more amazing is that Patel and his US teammates, many of whom were also born in India, will now get to play against their birth country in New York.
So, Patel is going to get the chance to take on Virat Kohli – widely regarded as the best batsman in the world – and his India teammates in front of a sell-out crowd.
But after beating Pakistan, the only thing that could now top playing India would be beating them.
This whole thing must be a whirlwind for Patel, who moved from India to the US to set up a restaurant and forgot about cricket after playing for Gujarat at youth level.
4
4
But in 2018, he was called to a selection game by coach Pubudu Dasanayake.
At that time, he hadn’t played cricket in a year and had no chance of making it into the team.
However, he delivered a well-made half-century before ratting in an 80-ball hundred in the following game to earn a call-up to the USA team, and he’s been there ever since.
Patel saw an opportunity and grabbed it, and he admits his confidence in his abilities is what has shaped his life.
Speaking to Cricbuzz in 2023, he said: “Self-belief is my greatest friend. I never thought I don’t belong here.”
Patel has admitted that moving to the United States had nothing to do with cricket, so he’s grateful he’s now the team’s captain.
Speaking about it in 2022, he said: “It’s been a great journey, and it’s a very proud moment to captain the side.”
4
Cricket is a steadily growing sport in the US, and co-hosting the 2024 T20 World Cup should increase its influence even more.
But this win over Pakistan should also make the wider American public sit up and take notice, and Patel hopes it will see his side get some new opportunities.
Speaking immediately after that win, he said: “Of course, beating Pakistan in a World Cup is going to open many doors for us.
“And people, like the USA cricket community, [will] be aware of it. Obviously hosting the World Cup in the USA and performing here as a team, it helps us to grow cricket in the USA.
“I am happy with the win, playing against Pakistan for the first time in the World Cup and beating them. It was an unbelievable performance from our side.”
All eyes are now on that clash against India on June 12 at the temporary Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.
For Patel and the rest of the USA team, it would be brilliant to see the country get behind them in a big way for the remainder of this tournament because they could achieve something special.
Keep up to date with all the latest news and interviews on the talkSPORT Cricket YouTube channel.