Once Bumrah’s U-19 teammate, USA captain Monank Patel living the ‘American Dream’

When Monank Patel first stepped onto the Wankhede Stadium pitch over a decade ago as a wide-eyed U-19 cricketer from Gujarat, he shared the field with a lanky fast bowler whose unusual sling action would later make headlines worldwide, Jasprit Bumrah . Back then, Monank could not have imagined that his teammate would rise to become India’s premier all-format bowler .

Reflecting on those early days, Monank fondly recalled, “I played my first year of Gujarat U-19 with Jasprit and before that with Axar Patel at the U-16 level. We were together for two seasons, playing many games. Even back then, Jasprit had that X-factor, we all knew he would achieve something great.”

For Monank, however, the path to international cricket was anything but smooth. After receiving his US green card in 2010 , he considered leaving India permanently in 2013. “I stayed for a month in the US, came back to play for Gujarat one last time, but when the opportunity didn’t come, I decided to settle in the US for good,” he said. Initially venturing into the restaurant business , cricket remained his true passion.

Cricket in the USA, where it is far from a mainstream sport, posed challenges. “In 2018, it wasn’t easy financially. The schedule was light, and survival was tough. But after the USA gained ODI status in 2020 , opportunities and finances improved. Those first few years were challenging, but with perseverance and family support, we managed,” Monank shared.

Leading the USA team, Monank emphasizes unity beyond national origins. “There’s no Indian or Pakistani when you represent the USA. Ali Khan, Shayan Jahangir, and I play for the Star-Spangled Banner . We are teammates and close friends, our goal is to give our best.”

Many US players, including Monank and Saurabh Netravalkar , have familiarized themselves with Indian grounds like Wankhede. “A lot of us have played here before. We see challenges as opportunities, and expectations bring out the best in this team,” he said, recalling his half-century against Pakistan in the last edition.

Monank is optimistic about the future of cricket in the US. “Parents are now aware, and the number of cricket academies keeps growing. With Major League Cricket investing heavily , cricket is becoming a viable career. Playing alongside quality international talent in MLC over the last three years has definitely helped us,” he concluded.

From dreaming in Gujarat to leading the US side, Monank Patel is living proof that with resilience and vision, the American Dream can indeed be achieved.