In a remarkable blend of sport, culture, and shared aspirations, Cricmax Connect — a community-driven cricket initiative founded by Indian entrepreneurs in the U.S. — achieved a symbolic milestone by connecting with U.S. Senator Cory Booker at an exclusive gathering in New Jersey.
The meeting, spearheaded by Cricmax Connect founder Vinay Bhimjiani, was part of a high-profile event uniting prominent voices from U.S. politics and South Asian-led innovation. While the evening highlighted Senator Booker’s leadership efforts, it also sparked engaging discussions on cricket’s growing role in American society, particularly among the Indian diaspora and the next generation of multicultural youth.
One of the evening’s memorable moments was Senator Booker receiving a personalized Cricmax jersey with the number “25:05,” a tribute to his historic 25-hour, 5-minute Senate floor speech — symbolizing his perseverance, advocacy, and progressive leadership. The Senator also signed a cricket bat and shared his thoughts on cricket’s surging popularity in New Jersey, home to a large South Asian community.
“Cricket is not just a game; it’s the cultural heartbeat of millions,” said Vinay Bhimjiani, Founder & CEO of Cricmax Connect. “At Cricmax Connect, our mission is to use cricket as a bridge to foster inclusion, empower youth, celebrate diaspora identity, and reimagine how the sport can flourish in the U.S. Meeting Senator Booker, a leader who stands for resilience and inclusivity, is a strong signal that cricket has a meaningful place in the American story. We believe this dialogue will pave the way for future collaborations, especially in education and community development through sport.”
Cricmax Connect also unveiled its plan to expand cricket chapters across New Jersey, inspired by its successful formats in New Jersey and Los Angeles. This engagement marks the beginning of broader conversations around sport as a form of soft power, positioning cricket as a tool for cross-cultural dialogue between India and the U.S.
With Indian-origin entrepreneurs leading this vision, the initiative underlines cricket’s growing role as both a cultural connector and a community-building force in America.
