Former MLB outfielder and baseball analyst Nick Swisher heaped praise on ex-India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav at Major League Baseball's inaugural MLBx Mumbai 3-on-3 baseball event, held on 25 October 2026 at the Mumbai Football Arena, Andheri Sports Complex. Swisher recalled first spotting Suryakumar's potential during the 2026 MLB All-Star Week in Philadelphia — the same occasion on which the Indian batting star took on his role as MLB India Brand Ambassador.

Swisher's Tribute to SKY

'When we met during the all-star game, I knew he had something. That's why I wanted him on my team,' Swisher told reporters in Mumbai. He also credited Indian cricket stars and the Mumbai crowd for making the event possible. 'Mumbai, the hospitality, the heart of the Indian people, has been so unbelievable for us,' he said. 'We realise that this can't happen if we don't have our cricket stars.'

Suryakumar — who led India to the 2026 T20 World Cup title as captain — was joined by former MLB superstars Adrian Gonzalez, Jake Arrieta, and Jonny Gomes at the event, along with Athletes Unlimited Softball League standouts Rachel Garcia and Jordan Woolery.

Indian Cricket Stars Take the Field

The event also featured Indian cricket names Shardul Thakur, Jitesh Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, Radha Yadav, and Deepak Chahar. The players were divided into four teams named after some of MLB's most storied franchises — the Cubs, Dodgers, Red Sox, and Yankees — and competed in a knockout-style format.

The three-inning game format combined power hitting, athletic fielding, and fast-paced gameplay. Each player was allotted a two-minute at-bat, while the opposing side placed their three players in the outfield. Teams earned points for home runs and catches, with bonus points available for hitting through a centre-field target or triggering a 'hot streak' that doubled all points.

Cricketers on Their Baseball Debut

India all-rounder Shardul Thakur described the experience as entirely new territory. 'It is tough because it's not easy to keep hitting. The techniques are a little bit different. We had to learn about it, but the baseball players were really kind to teach us,' he said. He also noted the enthusiasm of young fans who had turned up to field the balls hit into the crowd.

Fast bowler Deepak Chahar, playing baseball for the first time, found surprising parallels with gully cricket. 'I really liked it as the ball goes farther... it's just like gully cricket; when we play in a gully, we only get runs straight,' he said. Chahar added that playing against his India and Mumbai Indians teammate Suryakumar in this unfamiliar setting was 'really exciting.'

Spinner Radha Yadav predicted a strong reception for baseball among Indian audiences. 'People in India will love to bat, and baseball is all about batting and those powerful shots. I think people will like it because people in India love watching those sixes,' she said, adding that fielding the incoming ball at high speed was an equally memorable challenge.

What MLBx Is and Why Mumbai

MLBx is Major League Baseball's fast-paced 3-on-3 baseball competition that combines baseball and softball talent with interactive fan experiences. Previously known as MLB Home Run Derby X, the format held events in London, Mexico City, and Seoul in 2022. The Mumbai edition marks MLB's deepest engagement yet with the Indian market, using the pull of T20 cricket stars to introduce the sport to a new audience.

With India's cricket fanbase among the largest in the world, MLB's bet on a cricket-baseball crossover event could shape future expansion plans on the subcontinent. Whether Saturday's event in Mumbai translates into a sustained fan base remains to be seen.