Can Cricket Conquer America?

USA batter Aaron Jones celebrates with captain Monank Patel after their win over Canada at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas.Photo byMatt Roberts-ICC/ICC/Getty Images

Cricket, once a staple of American sports in the mid-1800s, has long been overshadowed by baseball and football. Yet, as the world’s second-most-popular sport with a fan base of 2.5 billion, cricket is making a bold return to the U.S. scene. With the backing of tech giants and innovative new formats, this timeless game is poised to win over American hearts again. Get ready to discover why cricket’s resurgence is the most exciting sports revival story you’ll hear this year.

The Global Popularity of Cricket

Cricket’s global popularity is no joke. Originating as a medieval children’s game in England, it has blossomed into the world’s second most popular sport, trailing only soccer. An estimated 2.5 billion people around the globe worship cricket. It resembles a religion in South Asia, with India leading the fervor. The sport also thrives in Australia, South Africa, the U.K., and other regions. But here in the U.S., the average sports fan knows little more than that cricket matches can last up to five days and still end in a tie.

The Kolkata Knight Riders’ Andre Russell plays a shot during Indian Premier League cricket match in Kolkata on April 2.Photo byBikas Das/AP

Major League Cricket: The New Frontier

Enter Major League Cricket (MLC), the U.S. men’s professional league, launched last summer with the backing of tech titans like Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen. This league is a significant effort to reintegrate cricket into American sports culture. The timing seems impeccable: the U.S. is hosting 16 matches of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and cricket is set to feature in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. If there ever was a perfect storm for cricket’s revival, this is it.

Why Did Cricket Disappear from America?

So, why did cricket vanish from the American sports scene? The Civil War played a part. Baseball, requiring shorter games and less equipment, became the pastime of choice for soldiers. Post-war, these men spread baseball’s appeal across the country. Cricket, with its lengthy matches, fell by the wayside.

Cricket’s Evolution: The T20 Revolution

Today, even Major League Baseball is grappling with relevance in an era of short attention spans. To keep fans engaged, baseball has introduced rules to speed up the game. Cricket, ever adaptive, tackled dwindling crowds decades ago by inventing Twenty20, or T20. This format promises an action-packed three-hour match, starkly contrasting traditional cricket matches that can last up to five days. In T20, each team bats for a maximum of 20 overs, making it a fast-paced and thrilling experience where ties are rare, rekindling global interest.

Saurabh Nethralvakar celebrates with U.S. teammates after beating Pakistan during a T20 World Cup cricket match at Grand Prairie Stadium.Photo byTony Gutierrez / Associated Press

Rising Interest and Spectacular Events

The upcoming T20 World Cup is poised to set new international viewership records, and American fans are eagerly showing interest. Tickets for the India vs. Pakistan match in New York sold out in a flash, with some fetching over $5,000 on resale sites. Following the World Cup, many top players will remain in the U.S. for MLC’s highly anticipated second season. The inaugural season saw MI New York, an affiliate of the Indian Premier League’s Mumbai Indians, clinch the championship against the Seattle Orcas. Matches were held in Grand Prairie, Texas, and a temporary stadium in Morrisville, North Carolina.

Challenges Facing Major League Cricket

However, MLC has its challenges. The need for dedicated cricket venues and a packed international cricket calendar complicate matters. MLC’s season coincides with England’s professional season, and IPL stars are barred from other T20 leagues. Plus, cricket must compete for the attention of American viewers who are more familiar with sports like baseball, tennis, and cycling.

The Power Behind the Comeback

Despite these hurdles, MLC’s backers are a formidable group of business execs and tech entrepreneurs, including former CTO of Dropbox Aditya Agarwal and Perot Group chairman Ross Perot Jr. Their passion for cricket, combined with their resources, fuels this ambitious project. The challenge lies at the grassroots level, where better facilities are needed to improve the country’s quality and quantity of cricketers. This potential keeps the hope alive for the future of cricket in the U.S.

Past Failures and New Hope

Past attempts to launch an American cricket league failed, but Anurag Jain, co-owner of the Texas Super Kings, believed in its potential after the success of Willow TV, a 24/7 cricket channel. With the U.S. becoming its fourth-largest audience base, Jain saw an opportunity. Partnering with Perot, they raised $120 million to launch MLC. The league’s first season was a success, with all Texas Super Kings matches selling out and the playoff crowd standing-room only.

In a nation of immigrants, it’s inevitable that international sports gain traction. Ross Perot Jr. parallels soccer’s rise in the U.S., noting how it went from obscurity to a beloved sport over decades. Formula 1’s recent surge in popularity, thanks in part to Netflix’s “Drive to Survive,” shows how quickly interests can shift.

America is known for second chances, and cricket’s rebirth here seems promising. With substantial investment and growing interest, cricket might find a permanent home in American sports culture. The potential economic benefits are significant, from job creation in the sports industry to increased tourism during international matches. So, let’s grab some popcorn and see if cricket can hit a home run in the U.S.—or, should we say, score a six?