American sports agent J.B. Bernstein and his partner Ash find themselves struggling to bring in new talent for their agency. Their fortunes shift when they hear about an Asian businessman, Chang, who is interested in investing in Asian athletes. Inspired by a combination of watching Britain's Got Talent and a thrilling cricket match, J.B. devises an ambitious plan to tap into the Indian cricket market. He proposes a competition called Million Dollar Arm, which aims to discover the most talented cricket bowlers and bring them to the U.S. for a chance at a Major League Baseball contract. The duo pitches this innovative idea to Chang, who agrees to fund the venture, granting them one year to produce results.
Despite the excitement, Ash expresses skepticism about successfully training two cricketers from India to pitch professionally in just one year. In response, J.B. recruits Tom House, an unconventional baseball coach known for his unique methods. Determined to make it happen, J.B. travels to India, establishing an office in Mumbai with the help of local liaison Vivek. Vivek proves invaluable, steering J.B. through the intricacies of Indian culture and managing logistics like venues, merchandise, flyers, and even equipment release.
The talent competition boasts a $100,000 prize, with a chance to win an additional million. During his stay in Mumbai, J.B. meets Amit Rohan, a passionate baseball fan with dreams of coaching in the U.S., who eagerly takes on a role in the project for no pay. As J.B. sets up the first tryouts in Nasik, he encounters unexpected challenges when none of the participants can pitch beyond 45 mph, leading him to experience "Delhi Belly".
Determined to scout the right talent, J.B. embarks on a week-long journey across India, ultimately discovering two promising prospects, Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel, who both pitch over 80 mph. Rinku, originally a track athlete, shows up at the tryouts upon his coach's suggestion, while Dinesh, the son of a rickshaw puller, dreams of making it big. After a thorough selection process, about twenty hopefuls make it to the finals in Mumbai, where J.B. works with them intensively.
As the competition reaches its climax, Rinku emerges as the winner, but both he and Dinesh receive opportunities to travel to the U.S. for further training and professional tryouts. Vivek takes J.B. to the boys’ homes, allowing him to witness the difficult backgrounds from which they come, amplifying the responsibility he feels for their futures.
Upon arriving in the U.S., J.B. discovers his neighbor Brenda, who had been using his laundry facilities during his absence, is now dating someone else. After a series of antics, including being kicked out of their hotel for mischief, J.B. introduces Dinesh, Rinku, and Amit to Tom House for training. Unfortunately, the initial sessions don’t go as planned, leaving Tom doubtful of their readiness for professional tryouts in such a short time frame.
As J.B. and Ash face a budget crisis, they receive an unexpected call from a former client, Popo, seeking to reconnect. During a party intended for business negotiations, Amit, Dinesh, and Rinku accidentally disrupt J.B.'s pitch to Popo by getting intoxicated. This results in a lost opportunity, leaving J.B. frustrated. However, with Brenda’s encouragement, he learns patience and begins to build a rapport with the boys. Gradually, their training improves, and both their pitching speed and accuracy see notable boosts.
When Chang arrives for an update, J.B. is put under pressure to have Dinesh and Rinku prepared for intense and widely publicized tryouts in November. Tom warns that the heightened expectations may overwhelm the boys, but ultimately, J.B. feels compelled to comply.
As anticipated, during the high-pressure event, both Dinesh and Rinku struggle to perform, leading to a disappointing outcome. Still, Chang surprises J.B. by congratulating him, extending their contract for three more years, believing in the potential for future talent despite the current setback. Although pleased with his business agreement, J.B. is disheartened that the boys feel they've let him down.
Encouraged by Brenda, J.B. decides to give Dinesh and Rinku one last chance. Despite Chang's threats to withdraw support, J.B. pushes forward. Struggling to connect with scouts, it seems all hope is lost until Ray reappears, facilitating a meeting with the head scout from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
With Chang in attendance, Dinesh and Rinku deliver an impressive performance and secure contracts with the Pirates. Ultimately, J.B. finds love and builds a family with Brenda, while Chang commits to funding the Million Dollar Arm for an additional three years, setting the stage for future opportunities.
