When India and USA met in the first match of the ICC Under-19 World Cup at the Queen’s Sports Club in Harare, the scene in the stands mirrored the current reality of American cricket. The audience in the stands were mostly parents of South Asian descent, cheering loudly for every run and wicket of the American team. The pride and excitement was palpable, but it also pointed to a deeper truth.
A glance at the team sheet revealed that almost all the players were of South Asian background. This was not surprising, but it raised an important question. Is cricket in America now limited to immigrant communities? Historically, America has never been neglected in the world of cricket. The world’s first international cricket match was played on September 24, 1844, between the United States and Canada. Cricket flourished on the East Coast of America in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and greats like Bart King reshaped the game with swing bowling.
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But after the Civil War, cricket gradually fell into disrepair as national identity changed and baseball grew rapidly. Today, cricket has made a comeback in the United States, but its reach is limited. The game is mainly concentrated in South Asian, Caribbean and African immigrant communities. One of the major reasons for this is cricket’s non-recognition by the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). In America, any sport is deeply rooted in the college system.
USA U19 Playing 11 Against India
Utkarsh Srivastava – Uttar Pradesh
Amogh Arepally – Telengana
Rishabh Shimpi – Maharashtra
Nitish Sudini – Telengana
Adit Kappa – Andhrapradesh
Ritvik Appidi – Telengana
Amrinder Gill – Punjab
Sahil Garg – Haryana ..p
Adnit Jhamb -… pic.twitter.com/QHDKMpTYEu— DS Bhati (@DSCricinfo789) January 15, 2026
Lack of this platform for cricket has hindered its development at the school and college level. Even during the co-hosting of the 2024 T20 World Cup, the United States failed to gain widespread recognition for cricket. The India-Pakistan match in New York was scheduled to take place in the morning to attract audiences from the Indian subcontinent. This shows that American cricket is more dependent on foreign markets than domestic audiences. This problem is further exacerbated by administrative instability.
USA Cricket has long suffered from leadership crises and interference from the ICC. Now that cricket will be included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, this is a golden opportunity for the US. But without NCAA approval and strong governance, even this opportunity will have limited impact. The real challenge for American cricket now is not to increase its numbers, but to broaden and strengthen its roots.
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