Cricket and baseball will square off this fall as MLBx heads to India. On October 24 at Mumbai Football Arena, Andheri Sports Complex, former MLB superstars Nick Swisher and Adrían González will take on India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Surya Kumar Yadav in a battle of power and defense supremacy.
The game is a modified, co-ed 3-on-3 home run derby which rewards players for home runs and defensive catches — making it the perfect format for big leaguers and cricket stars to battle.
Each player will have one two-minute at-bat during a three-inning game, while the opposing team will set up their three players in the outfield. Teams earn a point for each home run and a point for each catch. Bonus points can be earned by hitting balls through a center-field target placed above the outfield fence or calling for a hot streak of five swings where offensive and defensive points count double. At the end of a game, the team with the most points wins.
For more on the rules, watch the video below:
The event has previously taken place at 15 U.S. venues over the past three years, including at this year’s All-Star Week in Philadelphia. It has also been played internationally with stops in London, Seoul and Mexico City. However, this contest in Mumbai, featuring one of cricket’s greatest players, showcases baseball’s continued growth across India.
“India represents one of the world’s most exciting locations for large-scale events and a massive growth opportunity for baseball, which is why we’re thrilled to bring MLBx to Mumbai for the first time,” said Jeremiah Yolkut, Major League Baseball, Senior Vice President of Global Operations and Events. “Building on the incredible response to our recent partnerships in India, we’re looking forward to giving fans the opportunity to experience the energy of baseball firsthand through MLBx.”
