From the narrow mesmerising streets to the gigantic stadiums- Every Indian has a loud cheer at the tip of their tongue “India! India!”. With eyes glued to TV and mobile screens during the World Cup and hearts beating faster than ever; this is India who lives and dies for cricket.
The introduction might not be enough to describe India’s craze for cricket. In India, the game is an emotion more than just a mere sport. The craze is such that during intense matches, prayers are performed in every household to wish for India’s victory. Nevertheless, it all started with the emergence of some of the greatest players in the history of Indian cricket.
From the legendary Kapil Dev to The Ultra Legend ‘Sachin Tendulkar’, cricket has found its way straight into the veins of the Indian audience. India’s passionate support for the game especially during big tournaments particularly the Cricket World Cup, could be undoubtedly considered as one of the most impressive displays of the nation’s love for the game.
Such fire in the Indian spirits was witnessed in the 2011 World Cup when India brought home the trophy after a long wait of 28 years. The impact of legendary players and their legendary contributions to the sport has been a huge reason behind the sport being played at a grassroots level. From rural to urban regions and national to international, the sport is played with high spirits.
It has always been perceived that a sport can unite an entire nation. And India’s love for cricket must be considered as one of the best examples in this regard. Cricket in India has no boundaries. All formats of the sport are followed vigorously by its fans.
In India, cricket is said to be contributing almost 6.3 billion dollars to the country’s overall GDP. And it is quite surprising, that this contribution only comes from IPL or the Indian Premier League, one of the biggest premier leagues in the world. Indian cricket has been transformed into an annual showbiz thanks to the revolutionary Indian Premier League.
The league is said to have the highest viewership in terms of sports events around the world. The league has taken cricket to new heights that combine sportsmanship with some glitz and glamour.
The influence of cricket has crossed its boundaries when it comes to the entertainment industry in India. There have been several movies and series made on cricket and the legends of the game to attract youngsters and inspire them to take on the sport.
From movies like “MS: Dhoni- The Untold Story” which shows the journey of MS Dhoni to “83” showing the life of Kapil Dev, all have received innumerable whistles and applauses in the Indian theatres.
Looking ahead to the future of the game and how the younger generation is mingling with it, it can be stated that India is currently seeing a surge in young cricket players, particularly those participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
However, the timeless icons have retired from the game to leave the field for the younger generation. Such undying love for a sport like cricket can only be seen in India, where every individual bleeds blue for the game.
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