Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey
Why is Cricket so popular in India? | A look at why Cricket is so popular in India, a country that sees cricket be the second-most popular sport
At the end of January, the injury-hit Indian cricket team chased 328 to hand Australia their first Test defeat in Brisbane since 1988 and win one of the all-time great series 2-1. It was a match watched, and celebrated, around the world. As India celebrates this historic cricket win against Australia, we look at the high regard of the sport in the country and ask the question; why is cricket so popular in India?
A Universal Sport
Whilst it is the men’s team that has gained acclaim on the international stage, people from all races, religions, caste, creed, colour, and gender love to play cricket in India. Anyone can play cricket because it’s so simple: all you need is a bat, ball and at least two players: if you have these things, you can start a game of cricket, no matter how much or little space you have to play. If you walk down even the smallest street or alley in India then you will inevitably find a couple of kids playing a hard-fought game of cricket!
Cricket has more coaching centres and stadiums than any other sport in India. Almost every territory or state in India has at least one central cricket stadium. This infrastructure means that more Indians have access to cricket than any other sport, and they learn the rules and engage with the sport from a very early age. As a result of this widespread passion, sports betting is also popular in India, particularly wagers on cricket, with companies such as IndiaSlots offering cricket betting across the country. Many cricket fans use this as a way to inject extra excitement into the game, and some even use it to supplement their income.
A Wealth of Inspirational Cricketers
The Indian populous is home to a wealth of world class and highly regarded cricketers who are idolised in their home nation. These cricketers serve as a source of inspiration to young cricketers who aspire to be just like their idols and make it onto the national and international cricket stage. The most famous and well-known of these are:
- Sachin Tendulkar, popularly known as the God of Cricket. Arguably the most famous Indian cricketer, he started playing the game when he was 16 and began competing internationall at this stage too. He played for more than two decades, and was awarded the highest recognition that a civilian could get: the Bharat Ratna.
- Sunil Gavaskar is the most popular opening batsman from India. His technique against fast bowlers is world-renowned, and it is this that makes him incredibly popular.
- Yuvraj Singh is both an all-rounder and a destructive batsman. He was part of many of Indian’s most famous international victories, and he was awarded the Arjuna by the Government as a result.
- Saurav Ganguly is commonly known as the Daddy of Indian cricket. He is one of the world’s most successful cricket captains. What he really is known for is his long sixes, and like his peers he was awarded for his success by the Indian government, who conferred him with the Padma Shri.
With so many super star cricketers in the country, it’s easy to see why cricket is just so popular in India right now.
