The Indian Sports Ministry has refuted recent speculation of cricketers being urged to shift to baseball to play in the Asian Games or in the Olympics. Sources state that such rumours are completely unfounded, as baseball is not even recognized by the ministry. Recent rumours suggested a plan to turn a huge pool of budding cricketers into baseball players to enhance India’s medal hopes in global competitions.
It was said that the plan was under discussion at the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) meeting this week, which led to controversies in the sporting fraternity. But a top ministry official has flatly denied any such talks. Talking to PTI, a ministry source dismissed the rumours, stressing that the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has never had baseball on its agenda.
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“This is purely fictional. Baseball is not even recognized by the ministry. Why would SAI venture into cricket or try to convert cricketers into baseball players? This was never brought up at the MOC meeting. Our priority is to develop sports in which India already has a strong presence,” the official explained. The concept of converting cricketers into baseball players also appears extremely impractical from a financial perspective.
Sports Ministry trashes reports of turning cricketers into baseball players
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A top BCCI official chimed in, saying that no professional cricketer would ever make such a switch, particularly when there are lucrative options available in the IPL, domestic T20 leagues, and even unofficial tennis-ball tournaments.
“Why would any young cricketer switch to baseball? Is it even a commercially viable profession? With IPL and other T20 leagues providing handsome returns, players have no incentive to switch,” the BCCI official said. Baseball is included in the Asian Games from 1994 and became a part of the Olympics in 1992.
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India, though, never featured in it. The Amateur Baseball Federation of India is there but not recognized by the Sports Ministry and has no government subsidy. Meanwhile, cricket continues to thrive as India’s dominant sport, offering players substantial financial and career opportunities. With the T20 format set to make its return at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Indian cricket remains focused on global expansion rather than cross-sport transitions.
