From Wankhede Dreams to American Reality: Monank Patel's Cricket Odyssey
When USA cricket captain Monank Patel first stepped onto the iconic Wankhede Stadium turf fifteen years ago as a promising Gujarat U-19 cricketer, he shared the field with a lanky fast bowler whose unorthodox sling action would soon captivate the world – Jasprit Bumrah. Little did the young Monank realize that his teammate would evolve into India's greatest all-format bowler, while his own journey would take him across oceans to lead an emerging cricket nation.
Early Days With Future Stars
Monank Patel fondly remembers his formative cricket years, playing alongside not just Bumrah but also Axar Patel during their junior days in Gujarat. "I played my first year of Gujarat U-19 with Jasprit and before that I played my U-16s with Axar," Monank revealed in an exclusive conversation as he prepares for next month's T20 World Cup in his birth country.
Even during those early stages, Bumrah's exceptional talent was evident to his teammates. "We played both red-ball and white-ball cricket, and those were really special times," Monank recalled. "The way Jasprit was performing, we knew he had that X-factor and would definitely go on to do something great."
The Crossroads: From Cricket to Migration
Monank's path to international cricket was anything but straightforward. After obtaining his green card in 2010, he made the difficult decision to permanently relocate to the United States in 2013, even contemplating quitting cricket altogether. "I tried staying there for a month or so, then came back to India to give myself one last chance to play for Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy," he explained. When that opportunity didn't materialize, he returned to the US to settle permanently.
The transition involved shifting focus to the restaurant business, though cricket remained his true passion. "When I moved to the US, my vision wasn't just to play cricket. I wanted to start my own business," Monank admitted, highlighting the practical challenges of pursuing cricket in a country where it wasn't among the top ten sports.
Building Cricket in American Soil
The journey from semi-amateur to professional cricketer in the US was fraught with financial uncertainty. "In 2018, it wasn't easy to survive financially by just playing cricket," Monank acknowledged. "We didn't have a busy schedule throughout the year."
However, the landscape began transforming when USA cricket gained ODI status in 2020. "Everything, financially and opportunity-wise, got better," he noted. "The first two, three years were a bit tough, but we managed it really well." Monank credits his family's unwavering support as crucial to navigating these challenges in a new country.
Unity in Diversity: The USA Cricket Team
One of the most remarkable aspects of USA cricket is its diverse composition. When Monank takes the field alongside Pakistan-origin teammates like Ali Khan and Shayan Jahangir, national origins dissolve into shared purpose. "There's no Indian, no Pakistani when you represent the USA," Monank emphasized. "Everyone is representing the country. We are very close friends, very close teammates, and our goal is to give our best."
This unity extends to their familiarity with Indian conditions. Many Indian-origin players in the US squad, including Monank and Saurabh Netravalkar, have extensive experience playing at venues like Wankhede Stadium. "A lot of players have played here before," Monank observed. "We'll take this as a challenge, and when we are challenged, this team always performs well."
Cricket as a Viable American Career
The growing infrastructure of American cricket has transformed possibilities for aspiring players. "If you research, the number of cricket academies have been increasing every year," Monank pointed out, describing a significantly different scenario from seven or eight years ago.
The emergence of Major League Cricket has been particularly transformative. "Sharing dressing room with quality international players in the last three years in MLC has definitely helped us," Monank concluded, embodying the realization of an American cricket dream that began on those Gujarat fields alongside future legends.
