MLB Partners With Reliance’s RISE Worldwide to Expand Baseball Footprint in India
Major League Baseball (MLB) has taken another major step in its global expansion plans by announcing a landmark partnership with RISE Worldwide, the sports and entertainment subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, aimed at accelerating the growth of baseball in India.
The collaboration, officially announced on Tuesday, will focus on fan engagement, grassroots development, digital storytelling, commercial growth, and live baseball experiences across the country. One of the biggest highlights of the partnership will be a major live baseball event scheduled to take place in Mumbai in October 2026, bringing the sport directly to Indian audiences on an unprecedented scale.
For MLB, the agreement represents an important strategic move in one of the world’s fastest-growing sports markets. For India, it signals the arrival of another major global sporting property looking to establish a long-term footprint in the country.
Although baseball remains a niche sport in India compared to cricket, football, badminton, or kabaddi, MLB has steadily increased its investment in the country over the last few years. Since opening its office in New Delhi in 2019, MLB has actively worked on grassroots programs and youth engagement initiatives. Programs like MLB First Pitch in schools and the MLB Cup youth tournaments have introduced the game to thousands of young students across India.
The league has also increased its digital outreach and broadcast presence, particularly during the MLB postseason, while experimenting with India-focused storytelling content such as Indian Baseball Dreams.
Now, by partnering with RISE Worldwide, MLB appears ready to significantly scale its ambitions.
“This partnership is a key milestone in MLB’s international growth strategy,” said Noah Garden, MLB’s Deputy Commissioner, Business & Media. “Working with RISE will allow us to introduce the excitement of baseball to even wider audiences while strengthening cultural connections through sport,” he added.
India represents one of the largest untapped sports audiences globally. The country’s young demographic, rapidly expanding digital consumption, and growing appetite for international sports have made it an increasingly attractive market for global leagues. Over the past decade, India has witnessed the rise of multiple sporting ecosystems beyond cricket, including football, basketball, tennis, MMA, and pickleball.
MLB now hopes baseball can become part of that evolving landscape. One major advantage for baseball is its strong compatibility with digital and short-format content consumption. Fast-paced highlights, home runs, dramatic pitching moments, and statistical storytelling align well with younger audiences consuming sports through social media and OTT platforms.
MLB also understands the importance of local partnerships in India’s fragmented sports ecosystem. That makes RISE Worldwide an important strategic ally.
RISE Worldwide has emerged as one of India’s biggest sports and entertainment management companies over the last decade. The Reliance-backed company has been involved in several major sporting properties, including Indian Super League (ISL), Tata Open Maharashtra, Sports marketing and sponsorship consulting, Athlete management, Broadcast production & Event execution
Its expertise in fan engagement and sports commercialisation could prove vital in helping baseball connect with Indian audiences.
“India is one of the most dynamic sports markets in the world, and baseball's global rise makes this a natural moment to bring the sport closer to Indian fans,” said Nikhil Bardia, Head of RISE Worldwide.
“RISE Worldwide is happy to partner with MLB to create experiences, on the ground and beyond, that make baseball accessible and exciting for audiences across the country,” he added.
The proposed live baseball event in Mumbai later this year could become a defining moment for the sport’s visibility in India. While details regarding format and participating personalities are yet to be fully revealed, the event is expected to combine live baseball showcases, fan interaction zones, Youth engagement activities, Digital integration & Entertainment experiences
MLB has successfully used similar international events in markets like London, Mexico, Japan, and South Korea to build awareness and attract new audiences. India could now become the next major focus in that global strategy.
Cricket’s dominance also naturally limits space for bat-and-ball sports trying to enter the Indian market. However, MLB’s approach appears focused on gradual ecosystem building rather than immediate commercial success. By investing in youth programs, digital storytelling, and live experiences first, MLB hopes to create cultural familiarity before pushing deeper into competition structures.
The MLB-RISE partnership also reflects a larger trend within Indian sports. Global leagues increasingly view India not just as a broadcast market, but as a long-term participation and engagement opportunity. The NBA, Premier League, Formula 1, UFC, and now MLB have all expanded efforts within the country over recent years. Reliance’s involvement further strengthens the credibility of the project. Through ventures across media, entertainment, and sports, Reliance has become one of the most influential players in shaping India’s sporting ecosystem.
For baseball, this partnership may represent the strongest opportunity yet to establish relevance in India.
The journey will still require patience and sustained investment. But with MLB’s global resources and RISE Worldwide’s local expertise now aligned, baseball in India may finally be preparing for its most ambitious chapter yet.
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