Sports · Cricket · 10 hrs ago
MLBx Mumbai revives debate over cricket and baseball skills
MLBx Mumbai brought Indian cricketers and former MLB players together for a sporting event in Mumbai on October 24.
India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav and cricketer Shardul Thakur took part alongside former MLB stars Nick Swisher and Adrián González.
The modified three-on-three contest included home runs and defensive catches, and the New York Yankees won.
Clips from the event rekindled a debate over which sport is harder on social media.
Baseball fans pointed to pitches that can exceed 95 mph, while cricket fans noted that batters must handle swing, spin, seam movement and changing bounce.
The debate matters because the sports test different skills: baseball focuses on pace and movement through the air, while cricket also requires adjustments after the ball pitches.
The discussion continued online, but the event did not settle which sport demands greater skill.
An MLBx Mumbai event featuring Indian cricketers and former Major League Baseball players reignited social media debate over whether cricket or baseball demands greater skill.
The event was held at Mumbai Football Arena on October 24 and featured Suryakumar Yadav, Shardul Thakur and former MLB stars Nick Swisher and Adrián González.
The modified three-on-three contest included home runs and defensive catches, with the New York Yankees emerging as champions.
Cricket fans cited the difficulty of catching a hard ball without gloves and the challenges of swing, seam movement, spin and unpredictable bounce.
Baseball supporters pointed to athletic catches and the challenge of facing pitches regularly delivered at more than 95 mph (153 km/h).
- Who
- Indian cricketers, including Suryakumar Yadav and Shardul Thakur, took part alongside former MLB stars, including Nick Swisher and Adrián González.
- What
- MLBx Mumbai staged a modified three-on-three baseball contest, reviving debate over the skills required in cricket and baseball.
- When
- The event was held on October 24, 2026.
- Where
- Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai.
- Why
- The event brought players from both sports together, and clips from it prompted social media comparisons of their skills.
Cricket fans
Baseball supporters
Catching
Cricket fans
Cricket fans said catching a hard cricket ball without gloves is difficult.
Baseball supporters
Baseball supporters pointed to spectacular catches made while wearing gloves.
Batting and deliveries
Cricket fans
Cricket fans argued that speed alone does not determine difficulty, citing swing, seam movement, spin and unpredictable bounce.
Baseball supporters
Baseball supporters said facing pitches regularly delivered at more than 95 mph (153 km/h) is a challenge.
MLBx Mumbai held a modified three-on-three contest at Mumbai Football Arena.
Clips from the event appeared in social media comparisons of cricket and baseball.
The debate continued on social media, including discussion of fielding.
- Event date
- October 24, 2026
- Venue
- Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai
- Indian players
- Suryakumar Yadav and Shardul Thakur
- Former MLB players
- Nick Swisher and Adrián González
- Contest format
- Modified three-on-three
- Winners
- New York Yankees
What people are saying
Lemme know if a cricket player could ever do this
I am begging the best of the best cricket players on the planet to come face this lol. Please it would be the funniest thing ever