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MLB names Suryakumar Yadav India ambassador, renews JioStar deal
Cricketer joins baseball push as JioStar retains India broadcast rights
MUMBAI: From cover drives to curveballs, Suryakumar Yadav is stepping onto a different diamond. Major League Baseball (MLB) has appointed the Indian cricketer as its India ambassador while renewing its broadcast partnership with JioStar, signalling a fresh push to grow baseball’s footprint in one of the world’s biggest sports markets.
As part of the partnership, Suryakumar Yadav will collaborate with MLB on fan engagement initiatives, original content and promotional events across India and the United States. He is also set to attend MLB All-Star Week in Philadelphia from 10–14 July, where he will participate in activities surrounding one of baseball’s marquee events.
Alongside the ambassador announcement, MLB has extended its media rights agreement with JioStar, which will continue to broadcast the league across television and digital platforms in India. The renewed deal includes coverage of select regular-season games, the MLB All-Star Game, the Postseason and the World Series.
“India is home to one of the most vibrant sports cultures in the world, and these partnerships allow us to connect with fans in a meaningful way,” said MLB senior vice president of global operations and events Jeremiah Yolkut. He added that Yadav’s popularity and JioStar’s reach provide a strong platform to expand baseball’s presence across the country.
Commenting on the partnership, Yadav said sport has the unique ability to connect people across cultures and expressed enthusiasm about introducing more Indian fans to baseball while learning more about the game himself.
The announcement builds on MLB’s broader expansion strategy in India, following its partnership with RISE Worldwide, which is supporting the league’s efforts to grow baseball through grassroots programmes, fan engagement and commercial initiatives.
With one of India’s biggest cricket stars now batting for baseball and JioStar continuing to bring the sport to television and streaming audiences, MLB is hoping its next home run will come well beyond the ballpark.
