Willow by Cricbuzz has announced the premiere of its first original feature-length documentary, "The Long Game: Saurabh Netravalkar, Between Two Worlds." The film spotlights Saurabh Netravalkar, an India-born cricketer and lead engineer at Oracle in Silicon Valley, who also plays a key role on the U.S. national cricket team. The documentary, produced by Academy Award-winner Adam Leipzig ("March of the Penguins") and directed by Pierre Friquet, explores Netravalkar's dual life balancing a demanding tech career with his cricketing ambitions.
The documentary details Netravalkar's journey from a promising young cricket player in India, where he played alongside future stars, to pursuing higher education at Cornell University after his international career was derailed. He then built a career in Silicon Valley as an engineer, all while rediscovering cricket in the U.S. The film highlights his significant contribution to the U.S. team's historic victory over Pakistan in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, a game where Netravalkar bowled the pivotal "Super Over" that secured the win for the U.S. by 5 runs after both teams tied at 159.
"The Long Game" is set to premiere on Willow TV on June 17, 2026, followed by its debut on Amazon Prime Video on June 18, coinciding with the start of the 2026 Major League Cricket season. Netravalkar, 34, views his analytical skills from his tech career as an advantage in cricket and is now setting his sights on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, hoping the U.S. team will qualify as hosts. The documentary aims to make cricket more accessible to American audiences by focusing on personal stories like Netravalkar's, reflecting the growing interest in the sport in the U.S. amid Major League Cricket's expansion and its planned return to the Olympics.
