Imagine visiting friends in India during a major cricket final. Someone offers you tea, another person argues about the team selection, and everybody suddenly…
Imagine visiting friends in India during a major cricket final. Someone offers you tea, another person argues about the team selection, and everybody suddenly becomes silent as the bowler runs towards the wicket. It is not a religious ceremony, but the atmosphere can feel surprisingly serious.
Cricket is a passion shared by millions of Indians. Families watch matches together, children play in narrow streets, and supporters proudly wear their team's colours. Its popularity has a long history. The British brought cricket to India during the colonial period, but Indian communities gradually transformed it into their own sporting tradition. In 1848, members of Mumbai's Parsi community founded the Oriental Cricket Club, an important early Indian-run club.
Television and smartphones have made the sport even more visible. During the 2023 Men's Cricket World Cup, Disney reported that around 518 million viewers in India watched on television during the tournament. Its streaming service also recorded a peak of 59 million people watching simultaneously during the final. These are different measurements, not numbers that should be combined.
Famous players can become national heroes, while important matches create intense emotions. The rivalry between India and Pakistan attracts particular attention because of the countries' shared history and competitive sporting relationship. The sport can unite people across regions and generations, although supporters do not all agree about their favourite teams or players.
Calling cricket 'almost a religion' is a metaphor for devotion, not a claim about people's beliefs. India has many religions, languages and sporting interests, and not everyone follows cricket. Nevertheless, when a dramatic match reaches its final over, millions of fans may find themselves holding their breath together. That collective excitement is part of the game's special place in Indian culture.
Cricket has also become a major entertainment industry. The Indian Premier League combines elite competition with city-based teams, television coverage, commercial sponsorship and celebrity interest. Its shorter Twenty20 format makes matches accessible to viewers who might not have time for a five-day Test match. A single dramatic finish can become a national talking point within minutes.
Such popularity brings pressure. Players are celebrated after victories and criticised after defeats, sometimes excessively. The emotional investment of supporters can be inspiring, but it also reminds us that professional athletes are people rather than symbols designed to carry everyone's expectations.
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