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How Cricket’s Biggest Star Is Bringing the Sport to America

3 minute read

In America, the name Sachin Tendulkar may not ring a bell. But across much of the world, he’s simply “the God of Cricket.”

In his native India and beyond Tendulkar is the Michael Jordan, the Pele, the Wayne Gretzky of his sport, which just happens to be widely considered the second most popular in the globe. Since the 42-year-old retired from competitive cricket in 2013, he’s been on a mission to further expand the game’s imprint around the world. His next target: the United States.

On Oct. 6, Tendulkar and fellow cricket legend Shane Warne of Australia will announce a ten-day, three-city cricket all-star exhibition tour of the United States in November, in partnership with U.S. sports marketing company Leverage Agency.

Tendulkar and Warne, who also retired from the game in 2013, will each captain a team consisting of some of the best international players of the past 35 years, in three matches scheduled to be played in U.S. baseball stadiums: New York’s Citi Field on Nov. 7, Houston’s Minute Maid Park on Nov. 11, and Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Nov. 14.

India’s Elections: Snapshots From the World’s Biggest Vote

An Indian Muslim voter waits in line to vote at a polling station on May 12, 2014 in Varanasi.
A Muslim voter waits in line to vote at a polling station on May 12, 2014 in Varanasi.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
An Indian Muslim woman votes at a polling station on May 12, 2014 in Varanasi.
A Muslim woman votes at a polling station on May 12, 2014 in Varanasi.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Supporters of BJP leader Narendra Modi run as a helicopter carrying Modi takes off after a rally on May 10, 2014 in Robertsganj, near Varanasi.
Supporters of BJP leader Narendra Modi run as a helicopter carrying Modi takes off after a rally on May 10, 2014 in Robertsganj, near Varanasi.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Supporters of the Congress Party stand in fron of a poster showing Rahul Gandhi and his mother and party president Sonia Gandhi as they wait before a rally on May 10, 2014 in Varanasi.
Supporters of the Congress Party stand in front of a poster showing Rahul Gandhi and his mother and party president Sonia Gandhi as they wait before a rally on May 10, 2014 in Varanasi.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Veiled Muslim supporters of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal wait for his convoy to pass during a rally by the leader on May 9, 2014 in Varanasi.
Veiled Muslim supporters of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal wait for his convoy to pass during a rally by the leader on May 9, 2014 in Varanasi.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Supporters run passed a banner showing BJP leader Narendra Modi at a rally by the leader on May 8, 2014 in Rohaniya, near Varanasi.
Supporters run past a banner showing BJP leader Narendra Modi at a rally by the leader on May 8, 2014 in Rohaniya, near Varanasi.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
BJP leader Narendra Modi gestures to supporters while driving through the streets on May 8, 2014 in Varanasi.
BJP leader Narendra Modi gestures to supporters while driving through the streets on May 8, 2014 in Varanasi.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Muslim residents watch the convoy of BJP leader Narendra Modi as he drives in the street on May 8, 2014 in Varanasi.
Muslim residents watch the convoy of BJP leader Narendra Modi as he drives in the street on May 8, 2014 in Varanasi.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
BJP leader Narendra Modi greets supporters as he is surrounded by bodyguards while driving through the streets on May 8, 2014 in Varanasi.
BJP leader Narendra Modi greets supporters as he is surrounded by bodyguards while driving through the streets on May 8, 2014 in Varanasi.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Supporters of BJP leader Narendra Modi cheer during his speech at a rally by the leader on May 8, 2014 in Rohaniya, near Varanasi.
Supporters of BJP leader Narendra Modi cheer during his speech at a rally by him on May 8, 2014 in Rohaniya, near Varanasi.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Buddhist monks from the Drukpa lineage hold their voting cards as they wait outside a polling station to vote near the Hemis Monastery on May 7, 2014 in Hemis, Ladakh.
Buddhist monks from the Drukpa lineage hold their voting cards as they wait outside a polling station to vote near the Hemis Monastery on May 7, 2014 in Hemis, Ladakh.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Ladkahis wait inside a polling station to vote near the Thiksey Monastery on May 7, 2014 in Thiksey, Ladakh.
Ladkahis wait inside a polling station to vote near the Thiksey Monastery on May 7, 2014 in Thiksey, Ladakh.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Ladkahis wait outside a polling station to vote near the Thiksey Monastery on May 7, 2014 in Thiksey, Ladakh.
Ladkahis wait outside a polling station to vote near the Thiksey Monastery on May 7, 2014 in Thiksey, Ladakh.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Indian security force soldiers on election duty sit in a bus as they leave a central collection point to head for a polling station, on May 6, 2014 in Leh, Ladakh.
Security force soldiers on election duty sit in a bus as they leave a central collection point to head for a polling station, on May 6, 2014 in Leh, Ladakh.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Indian security force soldiers on election duty wait to leave a central collection point to head to secure polling stations, on May 6, 2014 in Leh, Ladakh.
Security force soldiers on election duty wait to leave a central collection point to head to secure polling stations, on May 6, 2014 in Leh, Ladakh.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Villagers and supporters listen to a speech by BJP leader Narendra Modi at a rally on April 27, 2014 in Sidhuali near Lucknow.
Supporters listen to a speech by BJP leader Narendra Modi at a rally on April 27, 2014 in Sidhuali near Lucknow.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
A disabled boy wears a mask of BJP leader Narendra Modi as he walks past a police checkpoint at a rally by Modi on April 25, 2014 in Bathinda, Punjab.
A disabled boy wears a mask of BJP leader Narendra Modi as he walks past a police checkpoint at a rally by Modi on April 25, 2014 in Bathinda, Punjab.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
An Indian Sikh man wears a mask of BJP leader Narendra Modi as they crowd to hear his speech on April 25, 2014 in Bathinder, Punjab.
Sikh man wears a mask of BJP leader Narendra Modi as people crowd to hear his speech on April 25, 2014 in Bathinder, Punjab.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Transgender Candidate Hijra Guru Baseer Kinnar aka Kamala Kinnar speaks to a resident while campaigning in a Muslim neighbourhood on April 23, 2014 in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi.
Transgender Candidate Hijra Guru Baseer Kinnar aka Kamala Kinnar speaks to a resident while campaigning in a Muslim neighbourhood on April 23, 2014 in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
AAP leader and anti-corruption activist Arvin Kejriwal is surrounded by police bodyguards as he greets supporters from an open jeep on his way to file his nomination papers on April 23, 2014 in Varanasi.
AAP leader and anti-corruption activist Arvin Kejriwal is surrounded by police bodyguards as he greets supporters from an open jeep on his way to file his nomination papers on April 23, 2014 in Varanasi.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Supporters of India's ruling Congress Party listen during a speech by leader Rahul Gandhi during a rally on April 20, 2014 in Mumbai,.
Supporters of ruling Congress Party listen during a speech by leader Rahul Gandhi during a rally on April 20, 2014 in Mumbai,.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
A supporter of India's ruling Congress Party wears a mask of leader Rahul Gandhi during a rally on April 20, 2014 in Mumbai.
A supporter of ruling Congress Party wears a mask of leader Rahul Gandhi during a rally on April 20, 2014 in Mumbai.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Indian women wait to vote at a polling station on April 17, 2014 in the Jodhpur District in the desert state of Rajasthan.
Women wait to vote at a polling station on April 17, 2014 in the Jodhpur District in the desert state of Rajasthan.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Indian women wait to vote at a polling station on April 17, 2014 in the Jodhpur District in the desert state of Rajasthan.
Women wait to vote at a polling station on April 17, 2014 in the Jodhpur District in the desert state of Rajasthan.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
An Indian woman casts her ballot at a polling station on April 17, 2014 in the Jodhpur District in the desert state of Rajasthan.
A woman casts her ballot at a polling station on April 17, 2014 in the Jodhpur District in the desert state of Rajasthan.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
An Indian woman casts her ballot at a polling station on April 17, 2014 in the Jodhpur District in the desert state of Rajasthan.
A woman casts her ballot at a polling station on April 17, 2014 in the Jodhpur District in the desert state of Rajasthan.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Indian women arrive to vote at a polling station on April 17, 2014 in the Jodhpur District in the desert state of Rajasthan.
Indian women arrive to vote at a polling station on April 17, 2014 in the Jodhpur District in the desert state of Rajasthan.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
An Indian family listens as Rahul Gandhi, leader of India's ruling Congress Party speaks at a rally on April 6, 2014 in New Delhi.
A family listens as Rahul Gandhi, leader of India's ruling Congress Party speaks at a rally on April 6, 2014 in New Delhi.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images

These exhibitions will feature the “Twenty20” version of the sport: cricket matches that finish in a matter of hours, rather than days. Pakistan’s Wasim Akram, South Africa’s Shaun Pollock, Brian Lara of Trinidad and Tobago and Mahela Jayawardene of Sri Lanka are among the other all-time greats slated to join the cricket barnstorming tour. Besides hoping to fill up ballparks, the players plan to conduct clinics in each stop to teach Americans about cricket.

 

“You’ll only learn things if you give them a try,” Tendulkar tells TIME. “Americans are used to watching baseball, and it’s very similar to that. If Americans can start coming to the stadium, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them following cricket from here on.”

The U.S. has pockets of cricket passion in places like New York and Washington, D.C., particularly among immigrants from the West Indies and South Asia. Estimates have put America’s cricket fan base at 15 million. “People are starving for a big cricket event like this,” says Ben Sturner, CEO of Leverage Agency, which is producing the tour. State Farm is one of the sponsors; the company hopes to reach the U.S. South Asian audience, which has grown 81% between 2000 and 2010 according to the Asian American Federation. “We’ve found cricket as a way to help us stand out,” says Ed Gold, State Farm’s advertising director.

For cricket, the larger goal is to win new fans. In recent years, the traveling all-star strategy has been effective for soccer, another sport that had trouble gaining a U.S. foothold: several top soccer clubs from Europe, like Manchester United and Barcelona, have played in the U.S., and the sport’s popularity has grown. “America will be curious to see what it’s like to experience the game of cricket,” says Warne. “What’s all the fuss about? Why is it the second most popular game in the world? What’s so special about this game?”

The tour’s impact, Tendulkar says, will be measured by how many it inspires. “I’m not just looking forward to this trip but to my next trip,” he says. “I would like to see how many more people have picked up a cricket bat alongside a baseball bat. Because that means we left an impression behind. That’s something I want to do.”

Meet the Winner of the 1948 Triple Crown

1948 Triple Crown Winner Citation
1948 Triple Crown winner Citation at Calumet Farm in Lexington, Ky.Tony Linck—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
1948 Triple Crown Winner Citation
1948 Triple Crown winner Citation at Calumet Farm in Lexington, Ky.Tony Linck—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
1948 Triple Crown Winner Citation
Caption from LIFE. Working out, Citation (right) is accompanied by lead pony to keep him calm. On lead pony is Trainer Jimmy Jones, son of Calumet's famed Ben Jones.Tony Linck—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
1948 Triple Crown Winner Citation
Caption from LIFE. Munching grass is a luxury for Citation after workout. His daily diet, above average for racer, is 20 pounds of hay, 9 quarts of oats, 2 quarts of bran.Tony Linck—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
1948 Triple Crown Winner Citation
1948 Triple Crown winner Citation at Calumet Farm in Lexington, Ky.Tony Linck—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
1948 Triple Crown Winner Citation
1948 Triple Crown winner Citation at Calumet Farm in Lexington, Ky.Tony Linck—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
1948 Triple Crown Winner Citation
Caption from LIFE. Citation and Coaltown (left) are held by Jimmy Jones, Coaltown has won $47,950 for Calumet, finished second to Citation in Kentucky Derby.Tony Linck—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
1948 Triple Crown Winner Citation
Caption from LIFE. Guarded by a watchman, Citation peers out of stall screened to keep away flies and people.Tony Linck—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
1948 Triple Crown Winner Citation
1948 Triple Crown winner Citation at Calumet Farm in Lexington, Ky.Tony Linck—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

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Write to Sean Gregory at sean.gregory@time.com