Alabama State contributed to one of the biggest upsets in international cricket history on Thursday following a strong performance from Nosthush Kenjige.
The US national team – competing in their first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup – scored a historic victory by beating powerhouse Pakistan in a super over at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. The United States owes a significant part of this triumph to Auburn-born Kenjige.
Kenjige, one of the few American-born players on the list, took three wickets and gave away 30 runs in his four-over spell, a performance that will go down in cricket history.
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The U.S. national team faces another powerhouse, India, Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. CT at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in East Meadow, New York, with a chance to take control of Group A of the World Cup standings. ICC Men’s World T20 with both teams entering at 2-0. The top two teams from the four groups advance to the Super Eight stage. The United States only needs one more win in two matches (India and Ireland) to advance.
Here’s what you need to know about Kenjige, including his birthplace, journey to American cricket and more:
Where was Nosthush Kenjige born?
Kenjige, a standout player on the Team USA roster, has a unique background. Born March 2, 1991, in Auburn, his father was an agricultural researcher at Tuskegee University. The family returned to India when he was less than a year old. A biotechnology graduate from Dayanand Sagar College of Engineering, Kenjige returned to the United States in 2015, first settling in Virginia before settling in New York, where he worked as a biology technician.
Nosthush Kenjige’s path to the United States national cricket team
Although he is focused on his career and has a full-time job, playing amateur cricket has reignited his love for the sport. Upon returning to the United States, Kenjige initially played squash, but later began playing in local leagues in New York, according to his U.S. team biography.
“It was a phase where I was just floating around without much purpose. But a year later, I joined the Columbia Cricket Club in New York, and that sort of rekindled my desire to pursue cricket,” said Kenjige to India Times.
In 2016, Kenjige applied and was selected to participate in the USA Combine held at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. He made the initial 30-man roster, but missed the entire roster in September. However, on the radar now, he was on the final list of 14 names to go to Uganda after an impressive performance in a camp in Houston in late 2016. According to Cricket.com, Kenjige was even fired from a full-time job then that he chose to tour with American Cricket to Uganda. Since his debut for the United States in 2019, he has featured in 40 ODI (one-day international) matches and six T20I matches.
Nosthush Kenjige’s role in T20 World Cup upset by Pakistan
Kenjige made his T20I debut for the United States on April 7, 2024 against Canada. Kenjige did not play in the match against USA, but was back in the fold against Pakistan and recorded his career-best three wickets in a match. Before his stellar performance against one of the powerhouses of international cricket, he had taken only four wickets in his international T20 career.
Coming into the World Cup, Pakistan was ranked No. 6 internationally, while the United States came in at No. 18. Kenjige, a left-handed spinballer, retired as Pakistan’s No. 3 hitter Usman Khan in the third over. on a catch taken by Nitish Kumar, on the third ball of his first over.
In the 13th over, Kenjige removed Pakistani power-hitter Shadab Khan on another catch taken by Saurabh Netravalkar. On the next ball, he got Azam Khan out on an LBW (leg before wicket) where the ball hit the batter’s pads, avoided the bat and would have hit the wicket but for the obstructing player.
While Kenjige plays as a left-handed spinner, he is listed as a right-handed hitter. Kenjige made his international debut for the United States on December 8, 2019 against the United Arab Emirates in an ODI.
