Suryakumar Yadav and fellow Indian cricketers try baseball at Mumbai promotional event

Suryakumar Yadav stated that cricket and baseball share a core similarity in power-hitting, requiring a strong body and arms to strike the ball hard and far. The New York Yankees squad won the championship at the MLBx: Mumbai promotional event held in the city. This team included former India captain Suryakumar, who serves as an MLB brand ambassador, alongside former Major League Baseball player Nick Swisher and Most Valuable Player Rachel Garcia. Several other Indian international players also participated in trying out the American sport alongside Suryakumar. These cricketers were fast bowler Deepak Chahar, all-rounder Shardul Thakur, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma, and cricketer Radha Yadav. They were joined by several visiting MLB legends including Jonny Gomes, Jake Arrieta, and Adrian Gonzalez.

Reactions

Suryakumar compared the local event to his recent trip to New York, noting that the crowd atmosphere felt similar and expressing hope that the sport will expand further in Mumbai as people learn more about it. He emphasized that hitting well requires hard work, mental toughness, and strength from the lower body to the arms, stating that nothing comes easy. Deepak Chahar shared that he enjoyed playing the game for the first time because the ball travels far, noting that it suits Indian fans because it remains affordable since it only requires a bat and a ball. Chahar compared it to street cricket where shots mostly go straight. Jitesh Sharma noted that the game offers a fresh opportunity for youngsters and crowds to explore a new sport, while Radha Yadav mentioned that learning about training methods from baseball players was a valuable new experience.

Context

Promotional events like this one are frequently organized by major international sports leagues to build new fanbases and engage local athletes in emerging markets like India. Baseball shares certain basic striking mechanics with cricket, making it accessible for cricketers to try their hand at the sport during exhibition matches. Such cross-sport interactions help increase sports tourism and international sports brand visibility across diverse global regions.