The giant called Indian Cricket

Consider the following facts

1             1.The India-Pakistan clash in the World Cup 2015 saw a record television viewership of 288 million all over the globe

            2.According to American Appraisal, the brand value of the Indian Premier League was $ 4.16 billion in the year 2016

                     3.And take a look at this

The man with Sachin Tendulkar is Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary, one of the most special fans of Indian cricket and an ardent follower of Sachin. He has attended every domestic match which the Indian cricket team has played since 2003. He left his job and even postponed his marriage so that he could see all the matches. He is said to be living on public funds.

These are just a few statistics and examples, which highlight the much broader picture of the phenomenon that Indian cricket is. Though the favorite sport of a 1.25 billion strong country ought to be massive, but India’s affection with cricket is not just about the magnitude and numbers.

The outpour of emotions, the feeling and the passion associated with the game in the country is absolutely incredible. Cricket has had a strong impact on the Indian society, and has been a strong channel of unity across various regions and communities of our widely diverse nation.

From the conviction of CK Nayudu and the elegance of Vijay Hazare to the brilliance of Sachin Tendulkar and the gusto of Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket has certainly come a very long way. It has seen its share of ups and downs, failure and success; but what has remained the same is the love for the game and the adulation which the cricketers have always enjoyed in India.

The game has given us enough reasons to cheer. With 2 one day world cups and 1 T-20 world cup in its kitty, and achieving the number one Test spot in the ICC Rankings, India has well established itself as a cricketing powerhouse. The story of success has so far been amazing and has seen characters which have turned into cricketing champions with their belief and their sustained efforts.

Indian cricket has grown from strength to strength during all these years. Some stellar performances on the field fuelled cricket’s growth in the post independence era and eventually created conducive atmosphere for the development of the game. Since then, there has been no looking back. Today, millions of kids and youngsters idolize cricketers and dream of representing their country in the game, and truly this is where the charm of cricket lies.

In the post-liberalization period, when the Indian economy was undergoing a phase of tremendous transformation, the market for cricket expanded in an unprecedented manner. This was further boosted by improvement in communication technologies and the widening reach of television. The Indian middle class had built a bonding with the game, and started loving it like never before. Youngsters got even more inclined towards the game- every gali was a Wankhede, and every household had a Tendulkar of its own.

As the popularity of the game increased, the need for more facilities and better infrastructure was felt. Thankfully for Indian cricket, the BCCI, which is now the richest and the most powerful cricket board of the world, made sure that poor infrastructure and lack of facilities does not hinder the growth of cricket in India. We must admit that in spite of a few glitches and a certain episodes bringing disappointment, the BCCI has been quite successful in its endeavors. It has not only worked on the infrastructural aspect, but has also been instrumental in the adroit marketing of the game. Cricket has reached to the Indian masses beyond all socio-economic barriers and this massive expansion has to be attributed to the efficient administration and smart branding of cricket.

It is elating to see cricketing talents coming up from small, distant rather unknown parts of our country. The situation was different say, a decade or a couple of decades ago, when cricket in India was more confined to the metropolitan cities. The trend is heartening and shows that our structure at domestic and regional levels has been doing well to identify and nurture the potential of bright cricketers. The best example of this has to be 2-times world cup winning captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who hails from the city of Ranchi. Who would have imagined that a player from a small city like Ranchi (when compared to Delhi or Mumbai, no offences to Ranchi people!) would establish himself as one of the greatest captains of all times.

Indian cricket has turned into a brand today- a business giant and a corporate powerhouse. Platforms like the IPL have further boosted the money making prospects related to cricket. However, in this quest for profitability and glamour, the core ideals and values of the game should not be forgotten. Indian cricket has risen due to passion, tenacity and most importantly the belief and love that the Indian masses have persistently showered upon the game and the players. A lot of hard work and dedication has gone on to make Indian cricket what it is today. The people involved with the game must ensure that the integrity and the ethics of the game are never compromised with. And we would just keep on loving the game like we always have…..Come on India!