The long game: Inside MLB's big bet on India's baseball future
Major League Baseball is focusing on long-term grassroots development in India rather than immediate commercial expansion. The league aims to build a foundation through school programs and local coaching to foster interest in the sport.
Why it matters
This strategy reflects a patient approach to international market entry, prioritizing cultural integration over quick financial returns.
NEW DELHI: When Major League Baseball (MLB) opened its office in India in 2019, it wasn't the beginning of its journey in India. It was the culmination of a 15-year wait.For Ryo Takahashi, MLB's Director of International Business and the man leading its operations in India, the timing wasn't driven by a grand strategic moment or a blockbuster announcement. It was simply when years of conversations finally turned into an official commitment."People think MLB suddenly discovered India in 2019," Takahashi said in a free-wheeling chat with TimesofIndia.com. "The reality is we had been discussing India for almost 15 years before opening the office. There wasn't a magical reason why it happened in 2019. That's simply when we received the approvals and could make the commitment official," he said.Seven years later, MLB's ambitions in India still look very different from those of most global sports leagues.
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