Of all the things that stood out in the 2024 T20 World Cup, USA’s campaign takes the cake. They came in as underdogs, were expected to be blown away. Well, they’ve surprised. Perhaps shocked even. But it was no fluke. Our MI New York pride, Monank Patel, leading the side in an epic chase against Canada, followed up by an even more epic Super Over win over Pakistan, breaks down the buildup, the preparations, the mindset, and the road to the Super Eights in an exclusive chat with MI New York. 

“It’s a great achievement for the entire team and the USA cricket community. The way we played and carried ourselves in the tournament was outstanding. If you see, different players stood out in different games. Everyone is proud of the way we played in those three weeks,” he said. 

For the world, the journey may have begun when an Aaron Jones-powered USA chased down 195 against Canada, but for Monank, it was a camp in February where the foundation was laid. A new coach, a new template, a new belief, and an instant upswing in the results. Ask Bangladesh. 

“We had a new coach in Stuart Law, who we had never worked with. We spent a lot of time together as a team in those two series. We prepared ourselves, beat Canada 4-0 and it helped us create momentum for the Bangladesh series. Ahead of the Bangladesh series, the media were talking about it being a one-sided series. But we talked about playing fearless cricket ahead of the World Cup. That is what we wanted to take in. And the way we played against them was outstanding,” he said. 

In the three-match T20I series, USA beat Bangladesh 2-1. It was as big an upset as could be. And it was just the start of what was to transpire and come over the next three weeks. 

“It was not just beating them. In the first game, we needed 45 runs in three-odd overs, and we pulled it off from there. Those two games were very crucial for us. It gave us a lot of confidence and belief that we could win from any situation, against any team.”

The main deal now – Pakistan in the Group Stage. USA had already done what even the most optimistic of supporters would have been happy with, beating Canada. Just a tough fight would’ve now been enough. Not for Monank though. 

“We had a chat before the game, and we said we had nothing to lose,” he said of the Pakistan game. “The pressure was on them. We saw the footages of some of their batsmen, and we knew the matchup was in our favor. For example, Muhammad Rizwan’s wicket, we decided we would bowl him the outswinger, and the second ball he faced, he outside-edged to Steven Taylor. We utilized the conditions really well and we knew 160-165 was a very gettable score.”

Monank is the ultimate pressure-killer. Or a pressure lover. In the chase of 160, at one point, he was batting on a 27-ball 31 soaking it all up. But it was all accounted for. It was all premeditated. And the larger plan began to unveil with consecutive boundaries off Iftikhar Ahmed. 

“After the first ten overs, we decided to target certain bowlers. We were targeting the shorter boundaries. I decided to take down Iftikhar if he came on to bowl. We got 11 runs in that over. Shaheen Afridi then came on to bowl, and I pre-planned the whole over and he bowled exactly where I wanted him to bowl. We got another 10-run over we wanted. It gave us momentum.”

Before we knew, he was on 50 off 34 balls. USA had a firm foot in the door. The reverse-swinging ball meant Pakistan clawed back. When it all came down to holding their nerve, USA came through. Huffing, puffing, they took it to the Super Over, and ensured America’s biggest cricketing moment was achieved!  

“Even before the game, I was talking to a friend and I was talking about the crucial times when I was put under pressure and I delivered. I told him it was a big occasion against Pakistan, and that is where my best comes out. I manifested it and it just came out.” 

It's been a dreamy few months for USA cricket, and now with the second season of Major League Cricket upon us, it’s time to get Monank manifesting all over again. Perhaps a second title!