The recent Cricket for a Cause (C4AC) Championship held on Nov. 9 transcended a typical sports tournament; it was a powerful seven-team fundraiser directly supporting the HC4A scholarship program with critical organizational backing from the Cricket4All (C4A) nonprofit. / Gulshan SIngh

The air inside the Prime 22 Yards indoor facility in Austin, Texas, wasn’t just humming with the sound of fast bowlers and hard hits—it was electric with good old-fashioned cricket camaraderie mixed with American ambition. The recent Cricket for a Cause (C4AC) Championship held on Nov. 9 transcended a typical sports tournament; it was a powerful seven-team fundraiser directly supporting the HC4A scholarship program with critical organizational backing from the Cricket4All (C4A) nonprofit.

This event proved that when it comes to chasing a dream, the cricket pitch and the boardroom aren’t so far apart. The convergence of corporate power and community spirit set the stage for a day dedicated to building the future of education and cricket in America.

Teams and players from tech titans and business heavyweights like Dell, HP, Intel, Microsoft, Amazon, Deloitte, and Charles Schwab all traded their suits for pads. As Anupam Govil, managing partner at Avasant and AI thought leader, noted about the sport’s rapid ascent:

“Cricket is the new baseball, and the popularity of the sport is growing across the U.S. Kudos to HC4A and Cricket for All for organizing this event featuring some of the emerging players in U.S. cricket.”

Beyond the boundary rope, the indoor cricket facility was a hive of organized energy, buzzing with dedication. Every detail of the championship was expertly handled by a small army of volunteers—from the front desk managing registration to the sharp eyes of the umpires and scorers, and the tireless work of the team managers and lane managers keeping play running smoothly. Even the concession stand sponsors, photography team, video crew, and young mezzanine hosts were key players in marking this as a memorable event.

From Gavaskar’s bat to Hollywood’s big screen

What truly energized the arena was the storytelling. Actor Vishy Ayyar, the star of American Warrior, didn’t just show up—he brought an inspiring life story. He spoke about his long, tough fight to break the mold in Hollywood, where he had to battle against being typecast. He admitted that whenever doubts crept in, he went back to the moment that changed his life: watching the great Sunil Gavaskar bat against the terrifying West Indies attack.

Vishy drew a powerful, lifelong connection between the pitch and the studio. He recalled the visceral, electric memory of the 1983 India vs. West Indies Test match, where the sheer willpower demonstrated on the field became the blueprint for his own pioneering journey as a lead actor in Hollywood. He showed how the focus and resilience required in cricket translate directly into determination on the big screen.

Recounting the moment he witnessed Sunil Gavaskar’s crucial century back in 1983, he said, “I’ve never clapped in my life like that. And that day, I said, ‘Man, that mindset is what I want.’”

His success, he noted, was built on that cricket mindset—the resilience and focus of the pitch—making his journey a powerful cultural bridge for anyone chasing a dream against the odds. It was a genuine, inspiring smile-maker for every young player listening.

 

What truly energized the arena was the storytelling. Actor Vishy Ayyar, the star of American Warrior, didn’t just show up—he brought an inspiring life story. / Gulshan SIngh

The voice of the game and the foundation for growth

Adding sharp perspective on the sport’s present reality was Harmeet Singh, the World Cup player for the U.S. national team, with Brian Walters, the “voice of cricket commentary,” running the show. Harmeet gave the crowd a peek into the sheer joy and emotion of their historic victory over Pakistan but quickly pivoted to the future.

He acknowledged that the quality of the team’s play, which often came “without all the extravagant facilities and the infrastructure that other sports enjoy,” highlights a crucial need. Harmeet articulated a clear vision for the sport’s growth, emphasizing that community-led initiatives are vital for providing the infrastructure and mentorship that young talent in education and cricket alike require.

Harmeet’s message to philanthropists was clear: If we want the sport to explode, we need to create the right environment. “It only shows that if we have the infrastructure and the right things going on for U.S. cricket, where the sport can reach.”

A stepping stone to a great career

Harmeet stressed that for the sport to truly embed itself in the U.S., young players need more than just inspiration from global legends they see on TV—they need local heroes they can look up to and touch. That’s the powerful, focused heart of what the HC4A scholarship program champions. He made a passionate, heartfelt case for the fundraising effort, stating simply that “giving back to the community is really important.”

The funds raised by all those corporate teams and entrepreneurs aren’t just a donation; they’re a direct, personal investment in a future star. This support provides the essential leg-up needed to “give back to the youth... and give them a stepping stone to... make a great career.” By funding scholarships and removing financial barriers, these efforts ensure that talent, not economic circumstance, dictates who gets to chase the dream.