How big is cricket in India ?
Cricket is huge in India! It’s the most popular sport by far and, if you visit India, you won’t have to go too far before you see people playing it. In fact, cricket holds a very special place in the culture of India.
Cricket was, of course, brought to India by the British in the 18th century. In fact, the first cricket club was established in 1792 and it’s been a national passion ever since.
Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, also known as the ‘God of Cricket’, is considered one of the greatest batsmen of all time and is somewhat of an icon in India. He’s still the highest run scorer of all time in international cricket.
What about the national team?
India have won the Cricket World Cup twice, in 1983 and 2011, becoming only the third country to have won more than once. India were also the first country to win a home World Cup. India will host the 2023 tournament and will be hoping to recreate the success of 2011.
India is, at the time of writing, currently ranked first in Tests and second in ODIs.
The great rivals for the Indian cricket team is, unsurprisingly, Pakistan and matches between the two often draw a huge TV audience in India.
And domestic cricket in India ?
There are several domestic cricket competitions in India but the most famous is, of course, the Indian Premier League. The biggest cricket league in the world, the Indian Premier League is a Twenty20 competition, which has attracted some of the biggest names in cricket, including AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli, Shane Warne and Freddie Flintoff.
First-class cricket competitions in India include the Ranji Trophy, the Duleep Trophy and the Irani Trophy, the latter being the most followed.
There are also a number of limited overs competitions, including the Deodhar Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which is also known as the Premier Cup.
There are also youth and women’s competitions and the sheer number and diversity of the domestic cricket competitions in India is testament to the popularity of the sport in the country.
Can we visit India on a school cricket tour ?
You certainly can! Your students will love the opportunity to play friendly fixtures against local opposition of a similar standard – their passion for the sport is sure to rub off on your students! Plus, the post-match hospitality offers a fantastic opportunity for your students to learn more about their opposition and their culture.
And, when you’re not on the cricket field, you’ll have the chance to explore some incredible sites in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, including the Taj Mahal!
Interested in visiting India on your next school cricket tour ?
Please don’t hesitate to contact us for further information or to request a tailor-made quote .