How cricket is taking America by storm?

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In a field in Bowie, Maryland, a group of kids are enthusiastically engaged in a game not commonly played in the United States: cricket. 

Among them is 13-year-old Jordyn Hinkle-Walker, who recalls the bewilderment of her mother when she first took up the sport. 

"When I first started playing, my mom was like, 'Girl, what are you doing?'" Jordyn said.

Jordyn had never heard of cricket until three years ago, when her school's coach, Sham Chotoo, introduced the game to her classroom. 

"I called up the principal and said, 'Hey, I would like to come to the school and do a cricket demo,'" Chotoo shared with CBS News. 

The students' response was overwhelming. 

"You could see the excitement on their faces; they were just thrilled," he added.

Chotoo, who grew up playing cricket in Trinidad and Tobago, has been on a mission to spread the sport in the U.S. ever since he moved there three decades ago. 

"Back then, it was mainly the immigrant population playing cricket. It was a fun way to get together," Chotoo said.

When he had children of his own, Chotoo wanted to pass on this piece of his heritage. 

"And I said, well, why don't I start a cricket program here," Chotoo said.

His initiative led to the creation of the first elementary school cricket league in the U.S. Today, more than ten years later, his program boasts 86 teams and over 1,000 young cricketers. Cricket's popularity is rapidly growing across the country. According to USA Cricket, the sport’s governing body, there are now more than 400 leagues nationwide, with over 200,000 players.

"It's truly a watershed moment for cricket in this country," cricket reporter Smit Patel said.

He predicts the sport will grow even faster in the coming years. Last year saw the launch of Major League Cricket in the U.S., and cricket is set to feature in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. 

"It's the second most played sport in the world. The potential is immense," Patel said.

This month marks another milestone as the U.S. co-hosts the International Cricket Council's Men's T20 World Cup and competes for the first time. Patel believes the World Cup will significantly boost cricket's popularity in America, much like the 1994 FIFA World Cup did for soccer. The U.S. made headlines recently with a surprising victory over Pakistan, and an exciting match between India and Pakistan is scheduled to take place at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, a new $30 million, 34,000-seat temporary venue built for the T20 World Cup.

With cricket gaining more visibility and a growing pathway to professional opportunities in America, young players can now dream of turning their passion into a career. 

"Now I can say, you know what, you can be a professional cricket player, you can earn a living by playing in the Major League Cricket program here in the U.S.," Chotoo said.

The future of cricket in the U.S. looks bright, with more kids than ever before aspiring to play the game at a professional level.