Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA: Cricket may still be finding its footing in the United States, but one man’s passion for its legacy is helping bring the game’s forgotten moments back into focus.
Debjit Lahiri, a business consultant living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the mind behind Forgotten Cricket Memories — an Instagram initiative that celebrates the emotional and cultural history of cricket. What started as a personal hobby during the pandemic has now grown into a digital archive followed by more than 87,000 people across various countries.
Lahiri says the project was inspired by his childhood memories of listening to his grandfather’s stories about the golden era of cricket and watching classic matches together in the 1990s. “It was my way of revisiting that shared nostalgia,” he recalls. “I realised that a lot of cricket’s soul — the people, emotions, and forgotten moments — was disappearing in today’s fast-paced digital world.”
Before moving to the US in 2024 for a consulting role with an American client, Lahiri worked with a leading technology firm in Bengaluru, India. Once in the United States, he decided to take a fresh approach to cricket storytelling — one that focuses on depth and sentiment rather than noise and statistics.
“I wanted to slow things down,” he says. “Cricket isn’t just about scores or rivalries — it’s about heritage, memory, and emotion. Forgotten Cricket Memories was created to help people reconnect with why they fell in love with the game.”
The results speak for themselves. Of his 87,000+ followers, nearly 78% come from India, but surprisingly, the United States now ranks second, ahead of several traditional cricket nations. The platform also draws audiences from the UK, Australia, and the UAE.
Lahiri notes that around 43% of his followers are over the age of 35 — fans who grew up during the 1980s to 2000s and now turn to digital media not for trends but for nostalgia and meaningful storytelling. “It shows that even on fast platforms like Instagram, long-form storytelling can still thrive,” he explains.
As professional T20 leagues gain momentum in the US, Lahiri has begun exploring lesser-known stories about American cricket — from early immigrant leagues to modern-day players like Indian American Sushant Modani and second-generation athletes such as Ayan Desai, who are shaping the sport’s new identity in America.
Earlier this year, Lahiri visited the historic Germantown Cricket Club in Philadelphia, where he learned that cricket was played there as early as the 1850s. He discovered fascinating stories — like that of Indian cricket legend Ranjitsinhji once playing on those very grounds, and American cricketer Bart King, one of the earliest masters of swing bowling. His feature on the club and King remains one of the most-read pieces on his page.
Now, Lahiri sees himself as part of the broader revival of cricket in America, a movement fueled by rising interest, private investment, and local leagues. But he insists that “for this revival to sustain, the sport needs strong governance and grassroots involvement.” His Instagram project aims to contribute to this growth by documenting cricket’s historical and cultural journey — from its 19th-century roots to its modern American resurgence.
Lahiri emphasises that his storytelling remains purely non-commercial, driven by curiosity and love for the game. “This is about digital preservation,” he says. “Each story involves research, match footage, and sometimes direct conversations with players, coaches, or administrators. My goal is to make cricket’s past accessible and engaging for today’s audiences.”
Looking ahead, Lahiri hopes to expand Forgotten Cricket Memories beyond Instagram through collaborations with cricket museums, educational institutions, and academic programs that study sports history. He is also exploring podcast-style adaptations in partnership with former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa to reach younger audiences.
He believes that Indian American cricket is evolving from nostalgia-driven participation into a genuine cross-cultural movement — powered by better infrastructure, live streaming, and a younger generation that identifies with both Indian and American cultures. “Stories play a big role in that,” he adds. “When people see their communities reflected in meaningful ways, participation naturally follows.”
In Milwaukee, Lahiri observes the early signs of cricket’s growth. The city — known for its rich sporting traditions, from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Brewers and Packers — has a small but dedicated cricketing scene, including the Milwaukee Premier League. Historical records even indicate that cricket matches were played there in the mid-1800s, with Abraham Lincoln reportedly attending one.
After over a year in the US, Lahiri says the experience has been transformative. “Living here has helped me understand how sports, culture, and identity intersect,” he reflects. “Cricket may never rival football or basketball, but it can still carve out its own meaningful place in America’s sporting culture.”
