Baseball United, the first professional baseball league for the Middle East and South Asia, has signed six Indian players for the Mumbai Cobras — three from India and three Indian-Americans.

The Cobras, India’s first professional baseball franchise, will debut against the Karachi Monarchs when Baseball United launches its inaugural season on Nov. 14 in Dubai. The moment marks a new milestone for Indian sport and the growth of baseball in the region.

Local players step into history

The three India-born pitchers were developed through grassroots programs and Baseball United’s India Development Program.

• Saurabh Gaikwad, 23, from Maharashtra, has pitched in multiple national championships and international tournaments, including the Baseball United Arab Classic in 2024.

• Akshay More, 21, from Pune, transitioned from martial arts to baseball in 2019 and was twice named “Best Pitcher” in the All India Inter University Baseball Championship.

• Tushar Lalwani, 22, from Mumbai, switched from cricket to baseball in 2019 and has competed in both university and federation championships.

All three were standouts at Lovely University, which won this year’s All India Inter University Baseball Championship.

Indian-American talent joins the roster

The Mumbai Cobras also secured three Indian-American players through the Baseball United Draft.

• Karan Patel, 28, became the first player of Indian descent drafted by Major League Baseball in 2019 with the Chicago White Sox.

• Raul Shah, 31, a second baseman with experience on the Great Britain National Team, played for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.

• Aaron Singh, 28, a shortstop from California, earned All-American honors at the University of Redlands and most recently played in the Frontier League.

Baseball has a long but quiet history in India, played for over 50 years across 26 states. YouGov estimates 53 million fans in India, with an average age of 24 — one of the youngest fanbases in sports.

The Mumbai Cobras will debut on Nov. 14 at Baseball United Ballpark in Dubai during the “Subcontinent Series” against the Karachi Monarchs. The month-long season will feature four teams, with the top two advancing to the championship series Dec. 12–14.

The Cobras’ full roster will be announced Sept. 19.