Major League Baseball taps Indian cricket stars to expand baseball’s reach with Mumbai event

Major League Baseball (MLB) is bringing Indian cricket stars and former baseball champions together for its first-ever MLBx event in India, as it looks to build its connection with Indian fans and accelerate the growth of baseball in the country.

Scheduled for October 24 at Mumbai Football Arena, Andheri Sports Complex, MLBx: Mumbai will feature Indian cricketers Suryakumar Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Jitesh Sharma and Kashvee Gautam alongside former MLB stars and elite softball athletes in a 3-on-3 competition.

The event will feature four teams representing iconic MLB franchises, the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, bringing together athletes from cricket, baseball and softball in a format designed to combine sport with entertainment.


The line-up includes former MLB players Nick Swisher, Adrián González, Jonny Gomes and Jake Arrieta, alongside Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) stars Rachel Garcia and Jordan Woolery.

Swisher, a 2009 World Series champion and 2010 MLB All-Star, will represent the Yankees alongside Suryakumar and Garcia. González, a five-time MLB All-Star and four-time Gold Glove Award winner, will team up with Jitesh and Woolery for the Dodgers.

Arrieta, the 2015 National League Cy Young Award winner, will represent the Cubs alongside Thakur, while Gomes, a member of Boston's 2013 World Series-winning team, will play for the Red Sox alongside Kashvee. One player for each of the latter two teams is yet to be announced.

The competition will be accompanied by music and entertainment, including performances by Badshah and KR$NA, with Mumbai-based DJ OG SHEZ also part of the line-up.

“India’s passion for sport, combined with its vibrant entertainment culture, makes Mumbai the perfect setting for MLBx’s first event in the country. By bringing together some of India’s biggest cricket stars with MLB stars and elite softball athletes, we’re creating a unique opportunity for fans to experience baseball in a new and exciting way. We’re excited to continue building our connection with Indian fans and introducing more people to the game through this celebration of sport and culture,” said Jeremiah Yolkut, MLB’s senior vice-president of global operations and events.

Nikhil Bardia, head of RISE Worldwide, said: “MLBx: Mumbai is about bringing two sporting worlds together in a way that feels fresh and exciting for Indian fans. Having Suryakumar Yadav lead the charge alongside Shardul, Jitesh and Kashvee, and share the field with MLB legends and AUSL athletes, makes this much more than a baseball event. It’s a celebration of sport, entertainment and culture. We’re proud to bring this experience to Mumbai and give fans the chance to see some incredible sporting talent come together in a completely new format.”

MLBx: Mumbai marks the first MLBx event in India and builds on MLB’s partnership with RISE Worldwide to accelerate the growth of baseball in the country.