MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL has announced a strategic partnership with RISE Worldwide, the sports and entertainment arm of Reliance Industries, in a major push to accelerate the growth of baseball in India.
The collaboration marks one of MLB’s most significant commercial and grassroots expansion initiatives in South Asia and reflects the league’s long-term ambition to establish a stronger foothold in one of the world’s fastest-growing sports markets.
As part of the partnership, MLB and RISE Worldwide will jointly organise a live baseball event in Mumbai in October 2026 aimed at introducing the sport to wider Indian audiences through fan engagement experiences, live entertainment, grassroots activation, digital content, and commercial initiatives, a report on mlb.com said.
The event is expected to become a flagship showcase for baseball in India and could feature MLB branding activations, youth participation programs, celebrity collaborations, and experiential fan zones.
MLB has steadily expanded its India presence since opening its office in New Delhi in 2019/ Over the past several years, the league has focused heavily on grassroots development, school programs, youth competitions, local broadcasting partnerships, and India-focused storytelling initiatives.
One of the most important initiatives has been the growth of the MLB Cup youth tournament. According to MLB executives, the competition has expanded dramatically from just 12 teams in its inaugural edition in 2021, to around 150 teams recently, with participation numbers reportedly growing from roughly 150 children to nearly 2,000 players.
The alliance with RISE Worldwide is viewed as especially significant because of Reliance’s growing influence across sports, broadcasting, digital streaming, grassroots development, and entertainment ecosystems in India.
