Boston’s cricket craze continues as the US co-hosts Men’s T20 World Cup

Saurabh Netravalkar, right, has become the breakout star of the U.S. national cricket team due to heroics like his dismissal of Indian superstar cricketer Virat Kohli, center, during Wednesday's match between the U.S. and India at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.

Andrea Asuaje is a producer with “Under the Radar with Callie Crossley.”Prior to her work at GBH, she was a senior producer and show runner at Rococo Punch; and a reporter, producer and co-host of WBUR’s radio series and podcast, Kind World.

June 21, 2024

Editor’s note: This segment originally broadcast on Oct. 15, 2023.

In a shocking upset at the start of the Cricket Men’s T20 World Cup, the USA cricket team bested Pakistan, one of the world’s championship teams. And for the first time, the U.S. is co-hosting the Men’s World Cup with the West Indies. It’s another indication of the growing enthusiasm in America for the other bat-and ball-game, the second most popular sport in the world after soccer.

Locally, the amount of cricket teams has more than doubled.

“I moved into Massachusetts in 2010. When I moved, we had about 30 teams, [and] if you assume 15 to 20 players per team, you have about 600 players back in 2010. Now, as of today, in 2023 October, we have roughly about 72 teams playing,” said Kumar Putravu, president of the Massachusetts State Cricket League. “So we’ve doubled the number of teams and we have a total number of players, roughly around 2,000 to 3,000 players, give or take a few. It has grown exponentially over the last decade.”

Once known as the “gentleman’s game” of the 18th century, which was only played by the British elite, today’s cricket is dominated by immigrants in Greater Boston and beyond.

“There’s now opportunities for men, women, kids... people above 40, even people above 50, people above 60, there are opportunities for them to play,” said Kartik Shah, founder and director of the Greater Boston Cricket Foundation. “As more opportunities come about, you see more and more people trying to play the game that are immigrants here from all over the world. And cricket is played all over the world. And all of these people now have a chance to play different versions, different styles, different formats.”

Will the surge in Massachusetts teams help add cricket to Boston’s roster of beloved sports?

Guests

Kartik Shah, founder and director of the Greater Boston Cricket Foundation

Phani Kumar Putravu, president of the Massachusetts State Cricket League