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Cricket in India

Overview

Cricket is the most widely followed sport in India, with a presence that extends from international competition to street and gully games in nearly every town and village. The sport is governed in the country by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), one of the wealthiest cricket boards in the world. India has produced multiple generations of internationally recognised cricketers and has hosted several major tournaments, including editions of the ICC Cricket World Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy.

Key facts

Sport Cricket
Governing body Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
BCCI founded 1928
International affiliation International Cricket Council (ICC), Asian Cricket Council (ACC)
First Test match 1932, against England at Lord's, London
National teams Men's, Women's, Under-19, A-team
Premier domestic trophy (first-class) Ranji Trophy
Premier T20 league Indian Premier League (IPL)

Background

Cricket arrived in India through British colonial contact, with early references to the game being played by sailors and traders in western India in the 18th century. The Parsi community of Bombay (now Mumbai) is generally credited with being the first Indian community to take up the game in an organised manner, forming the Oriental Cricket Club in 1848. Communal tournaments such as the Bombay Triangular and later the Bombay Quadrangular and Bombay Pentangular shaped the early competitive landscape before independence.

Princely patronage played a significant role in the growth of the sport, with rulers of states such as Patiala, Baroda, Vizianagaram and Nawanagar fielding teams and supporting players. K. S. Ranjitsinhji, who played for England in the late 19th century, and his nephew K. S. Duleepsinhji, are early examples of Indian-born cricketers reaching the top level; the Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy are named after them.

Administration

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was founded in December 1928 and is headquartered in Mumbai. It is a member of the International Cricket Council and runs national selection, domestic competitions, and commercial arrangements for cricket in India. The BCCI is organised into state and regional associations that operate first-class teams and feeder structures. Following recommendations of the Justice R. M. Lodha Committee, the BCCI underwent significant administrative reforms in the late 2010s.

National teams

Men's team

The India men's team played its first Test in 1932 under C. K. Nayudu and recorded its first Test victory against England at Madras (now Chennai) in 1952. India won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1983 under Kapil Dev and again in 2011 under M. S. Dhoni. The team also won the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2002 (shared) and 2013. India has been ranked No. 1 in Tests, ODIs and T20Is at various points. Notable captains have included Nayudu, Lala Amarnath, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, M. S. Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Women's team

India women played their first Test in 1976. The team has reached the final of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup on multiple occasions, including 2005 and 2017. Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami are among the most prominent figures in the women's game in India. The Women's Premier League, a franchise T20 competition, was launched in 2023.

Domestic structure

  • Ranji Trophy — first-class competition founded in 1934, contested by state and regional teams.
  • Duleep Trophy — first-class tournament between zonal or selection sides.
  • Irani Cup — annual fixture between the Ranji Trophy champion and a Rest of India side.
  • Vijay Hazare Trophy — domestic List A (50-over) competition.
  • Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy — domestic Twenty20 competition.
  • Indian Premier League (IPL) — franchise-based T20 league launched in 2008, organised by the BCCI.

Major venues

  • Eden Gardens, Kolkata — one of the oldest and largest cricket grounds in the country.
  • Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai — venue of the 2011 World Cup final.
  • Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad — among the largest cricket stadiums in the world.
  • M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
  • M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
  • Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.
  • Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.

Timeline

  • 1721 — Earliest recorded references to cricket being played by British sailors in western India.
  • 1848 — Oriental Cricket Club established by the Parsi community in Bombay.
  • 1928 — Board of Control for Cricket in India founded.
  • 1932 — India plays its first Test match at Lord's.
  • 1934 — Ranji Trophy launched.
  • 1952 — India records its first Test victory.
  • 1971 — India wins its first Test series in England and the West Indies.
  • 1983 — India wins the Cricket World Cup under Kapil Dev.
  • 2007 — India wins the inaugural ICC World Twenty20.
  • 2008 — Indian Premier League is launched.
  • 2011 — India wins the Cricket World Cup at home under M. S. Dhoni.
  • 2013 — India wins the ICC Champions Trophy.
  • 2023 — Women's Premier League is launched.

Significance

Cricket occupies a central place in Indian popular culture and commerce. The sport is a major driver of broadcasting revenues, sponsorship and celebrity endorsement, and has produced some of the country's most recognisable public figures. Grassroots participation is supported through age-group tournaments, school and college cricket, and a network of state associations. The sport has also been a pathway for athletes from smaller towns and rural districts to reach national prominence.

References

  • Official website of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
  • Official website of the International Cricket Council.
  • Ramachandra Guha, A Corner of a Foreign Field: The Indian History of a British Sport.
  • Mihir Bose, A History of Indian Cricket.