Major League Baseball (MLB) hosted its inaugural MLBx Mumbai 3-on-3 baseball event at the Mumbai Football Arena, Andheri Sports Complex, on Saturday, bringing together Indian cricketers and baseball players for a unique competition. Indian cricketers, including MLB India ambassador Suryakumar Yadav , Shardul Thakur , Jitesh Sharma , Kashvee Gautam , Deepak Chahar and Radha Yadav , entertained the crowd alongside former MLB stars Nick Swisher , Jake Arrieta and Adrian Gonzalez . The participants were divided into four teams named after some of Major League Baseball’s most historic franchises: the Cubs, Dodgers, Red Sox and Yankees.
Former National League Cy Young Award winner, All-Star and 2016 World Series champion Jake Arrieta teamed up with Shardul Thakur and Radha Yadav for the Cubs.
Because everyone in India likes batting, people should start playing baseball.
I really, really hope that this kind of game also picks up in India,” he said. I enjoyed it a lot,” she told ANI. I think if I had a little bit more time, I could be pretty good at cricket,” Arrieta told ANI.
Five-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove Award winner Adrian Gonzalez joined Jitesh Sharma and Jordan Woolery in the Dodgers team. “The one similarity that is very obvious is that we get to see the ball and hit it far. But the way this sport is evolving is really exciting. We got to learn something new, and the technique is a little different. So, if I want to try it professionally, I’ll have to learn the technique… “It was a lot of fun. Anyone who enjoys batting can try it and will have fun. You just need a big ground, three or four people, a few balls, and you can keep hitting the ball and fetching it. You don’t have to think too much; you just have to hit sixes. Technique is not that important, so you can play with a free mind. “I wish I got to play a lot more cricket so I could get a little bit better at it, especially with a bat that’s a lot different from the one that we use.
I had a lot of fun and am really grateful to have been here today.
