Dear America,
Over 2.5 billion people watch cricket in the world. But in the US it is treated as a boring sport where people just tap the ball and run. That’s not cricket at all. It’s just an excuse to pretend it doesn’t matter. Meanwhile the rest of the world is investing in cricket, making stars, stadiums, and legacies. Over here we are missing out on a sport that has so much potential to grow in the country.
Cricket is way more popular in the US than people think. There are so many local leagues, tournaments, and youth programs, but media coverage is zero. Schools won’t teach it, and there aren’t a lot of sponsors. Young players are left scrambling for grounds to play in, meanwhile many others in the world are thriving. America isn’t just missing out on a sport, it is missing out on a global connection.
Even with these struggles, the US national cricket team has proven that it can compete with strong countries. The US has produced so many talented players that can dominate in the future. It has qualified for major tournaments and gave a tough fight to strong teams and has also beaten a couple of them. It proves that American cricket is more than a backyard game, it’s professional, competitive and capable of growing a lot.
As The New York Times reported, the 2024 T20 World Cup, which was hosted partly in the United States, shows that cricket is gaining serious attention and investment in the country. Not only internationally, but major universities like Rutgers and the University of Michigan also have cricket teams. They compete against each other in tournaments.
According to a Reuters report, investors believe that the shorter T20 format and the launch of Major League Cricket could help cricket become far more popular in the United States in the coming years. Cricket is also set to take part in the 2028 Olympics which will also increase the growth of the sport in the US.
I’ve played cricket since I was ten. I’ve felt the thrill of a perfectly timed cover drive and the agony of losing by one wicket. Yet, every time I try to talk about it in school, people look at me like I’m speaking a different language. I don’t just want recognition—I want opportunities for kids like me to grow in a sport that can teach discipline, teamwork, and global perspective.
Sports networks, take notice. Schools, add cricket to your programs. Sponsors, invest in leagues that exist and create new ones. Youth players, don’t let this sport slip through your fingers. Cricket is more than runs and wickets—it’s strategy, history, and culture. By ignoring it, America is isolating itself from billions of people who live and breathe the game. It’s time to stop pretending cricket doesn’t belong here. It does, and it’s brilliant
So, America, wake up. Pick up the bat. Watch the ball. Learn the rules. Because cricket isn’t just someone else’s game, it can be ours too. And if we keep ignoring it, we’re missing out on a revolution that’s already happening.
Sincerely,
Varad Bhosale
Chakraborty, Amlan. T20 can be US craze like yoga and Bollywood weddings.
Reuters. 9 June 2025.
Nerkar, Satul. Unlikely World Cup Victories Raise Cricket’s Profile in U.S.
New York Times. 18 June 2024.