For Indians, cricket has always been more than just a game. It is many people’s heart and soul in our country. When there is a major cricket match, such as between India and Pakistan, everyone stops what they are doing and concentrates on the game. Cricket in India is like a religion.
Even if we had no interest in cricket, we all watched these matches because of the hype. Nothing brings India closer together than this game. The British made cricket popular in India by imposing their culture and traditions. For many years, only men played cricket because it was introduced to Indians as a sport played by English men. As a result, many people believe that cricket is a man’s game.
History of cricket in India:
With India’s independence, many people believed that cricket should be banned because it was a slow poison that was impeding the path to freedom. Others, however, saw it as a way to break society’s deeply ingrained social boundaries.
So, how did a sport that originated in 16th-century England become our obsession? There is no such thing as a typical Indian who does not drink chai three times a day and takes an afternoon nap. This game was created specifically for us!
It amuses me that one can spend an entire game standing on one side of the field and not even touch the ball once! These matches can last several hours, an entire day, or even weeks! Test cricket is the best way to put someone’s patience to the test. That is how slow this game is.
Another reason Indians are obsessed with the game is that we enjoy analyzing and debating it. Someone will be arguing about politics, cricket, or just arguing in general around every corner.
Rise in the journey:
The game gained popularity after the Indian national cricket team won the World Cup in 1983. Since then, we’ve seen kids playing the game, also known as Gully cricket, on the streets. There are numerous coaching centres in India where children and even adults can practice. There is at least one large cricket stadium in almost every state or territory in the country.
Cricketers in India have become iconic. They were and still are more popular among the general public than any movie star. Some fans even built temples for the cricketers. That’s the kind of unique god-like status they have.
Another factor that contributed to cricket becoming a big business was the Indian Premier League or IPL. The amount of money flowing into the game is staggering. IPL began in 2008 and is now worth 47,000 crores in 2019. Loud pop music was used in IPL promotion ads, and even famous people had teams!
Movies have even been made about famous cricketers like M.S. Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar. Cricket has never been short on talent or exposure, particularly in India. What is sad is that sports like hockey, badminton, athletics, and others were left far behind despite having exceptional talent and winning major trophies.
Cricket craze:
More broadcasts on Indian television should be made to make people aware of the progress being made in other sports. It is past time to give them the recognition they deserve. One in every five children dreams of playing cricket for India, which perfectly reflects the level of enthusiasm for the game in a cricket-crazed country.
On June 25, 1983, the identity of cricket in India was forever altered. India won the Cricket World Cup for the first time in 1983, a feat that stunned the world and made every Indian proud. In 1985, the Indian cricket team added the World Championship Trophy to its World Cup victory. Cricket was never just a sport after that.
In the 54 years between 1928 and 1972, the Indian hockey team won six gold medals in a row and ten medals overall. It is by far India’s most significant sporting achievement. So, why isn’t hockey as popular as cricket?
India won the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics, but the Indian hockey team has performed poorly in world tournaments since then. Regrettably, its demise coincided with the rise of cricket in India. Cricket eventually surpassed hockey and, eventually, all other sports.
Cricket in India – the unethical religion:
With the increase in Indian cricket that resulted in the 1987 World Cup being held in India, the game became even more popular. The tournament was a huge success, and millions of people in the subcontinent took up the sport. During this time, India’s only sporting success was in cricket. As a result, the game became even more special in Indian hearts.
By the end of the twentieth century, broadcasting had advanced dramatically, as had the Indian cricket team’s performance. Fans were able to enjoy those fantastic performances thanks to much-improved television visuals. It increased the game’s popularity, and by 2005, cricket in India had become “the unofficial religion.”
Cricket has grown in popularity and popularity with each passing day. The legacy of Indian cricket has undoubtedly been carried out primarily by cricketers, but the fans’ contribution cannot be overlooked.
Final verdict of cricket in India:
Passing on the legacy of Indian cricket to future generations has played an important role in shaping cricket’s identity over time. Every generation has carried the legacy with grace and flawlessly passed it on to the right hands.
When you consider the passion of cricket fans in India, you can see why the game is so much more than just a sport. Cricket’s identity has been greatly influenced by fans. They have not only enjoyed the game of cricket but have also celebrated cricketers’ achievements. Fans have adored and revered every player as nothing short of cricketing idols, from Sunil Gavaskar to Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar to Rahul Dravid, M.S. Dhoni to Virat Kohli, and even Mithali Raj to Smriti Mandhana.
So, this was all about the history of cricket in India. Also read, Wasim Jaffer trolls former England skipper Michael Vaughan.
