Mumbai, Feb. 21 -- Team USA may have exited from the 2026 T20 World Cup in the group stage, but they could be quite pleased with their showing in the tournament. Playing in India for the first time, US players won two games and ran the defending champions and co-hosts close in their opening game in Mumbai. It is a pointer to the potential for the sport in the region. Another positive for them was that apart from players who played their early cricket in countries like India, Pakistan and South Africa, the team also had homegrown talent who made their mark in the tournament, like Saiteja Reddy Mukkamalla, Sanjay Prasad Krishnamurthi, Nosthusha Pradeep Kenjige and Jasdeep Singh, all of whom were born in the US and learnt their cricket there. That is another sign that cricket can grow in North America. They boast of good tournaments too, with Major League Cricket attracting top international T20 players as well as owners of IPL franchises (Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have teams playing in the American T20 league known as LA Knight Riders, MI New York and Texas Super Kings). The next challenge for the cricket fraternity in USA will be to grab the interest of youngsters there. For Americans, a sport of bat and ball mainly equates to baseball. One way of introducing them to cricket is by having equipment that resembles the one used in baseball. That point is not lost on the Indian experts. With the focus on American market and T20 cricket, Makarand Waingankar - a cricket expert who has served the Board of Control for Cricket in India and state associations in various capacities, the most famous being introducing the TRDW (Talent Resources Development Wing) in the BCCI which helped unearth World Cup-winning captain MS Dhoni - together with bat manufacturers SG's R&D team have designed a bat that resembles a baseball bat. Known as SG Mac, the blade of the bat is slightly shorter and the edges rounded off, almost like a baseball bat. Designed to suit T20 players, the bat helps reduce air drag and improves bat speed. "It is a unique bat. When a thought crossed my mind to take cricket to America, this design was basically meant for baseball players of America who can be converted to cricket. For young kids who also play baseball, it will be something which will be easier to register," said Waingankar. "With this bat, you can smash really big hits." The International Cricket Council (ICC) is making a serious attempt for cricket's growth in America. Organising the T20 World Cup in the US, with West Indies as co-hosts, in 2024 was an attempt in making the sport popular there. The ICC is banking on cricket's return to the Olympics at the 2028 Los Angeles Games to raise it further. "This bat is like a fusion between a traditional bat and a baseball bat. The overall construction is like a cricket bat but it has got a thin handle and a very round back. The whole idea was for this bat to give a feel of a baseball bat," said SG director Paras Anand. "The baseball bats are cylindrical rounds. Here, the back is cylindrical and the face is flat, like that of a cricket bat. Obviously, you can't make it exactly like a baseball bat. It is, kind of, a fusion bat which in turn helps to hit (the ball) a bit longer," Anand added. Despite the changes, the bat passes all the ICC specifications, assured Anand. In India, they have introduced the bat in Mumbai cricket. They are planning to introduce it in the American market next summer. "Mostly it is an American concept. So once you market it in America, it will be a different story," said Anand. Among the cricketers, Shubham Ranjane, USA's most impressive batter in the ongoing T20 World Cup with 141 runs at a strike-rate of 180.76, has been using this bat playing in tournaments in the US. "This bat has a slightly shorter blade and rounded edges. The bat feels solid and perfect for players who want the extra punch," said Ranjane. "I have used this bat in Major League Cricket (playing for Texas Super Kings) and various leagues. I can feel the difference between these and normal bats." Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has also tested the bat. Robin Uthappa, the ex-India batter, also used the bat in the Hong Kong Sixes tournament and gave a positive review....