Cricket in India underwent a permanent identity change on June 25, 1983. India’s historic victory in the 1983 Cricket World Cup stunned the world, and every Indian was ecstatic about the achievement. In addition to winning the World Cup that year, the Indian cricket team also won the World Championship Trophy. After that, cricket was never just a sport.
Cricket, as we know it – that game of bats and balls, that game of pitching your best shot across the furthest reaches of the field boundary, and yet in moments restrict the momentum of the shot to a bare minimum – is a game that is played all across the world. It is perhaps easy to access the fun of this game, because all you require is something you can hit with, and something to hit across the skies.
In India, this game has reached perhaps the highest level of sanctity with Oscar nominated film Lagaan showcasing just exactly how religious and personal the game is to a country which is deeply religious in its existence. Bollywood and cricket are two things that Indians cannot live without. We can all remember that one crucial cricket moment when we were on the edge of our seats hoping and praying for India to win, whether it was the crucial wicket in the 1983 World Cup or the match-winning six played by none other than the captain himself in the 2011 World Cup. In this nation, cricket is practically a religion.
In plain terms, cricket may be compared to the unifying force of the Indian subcontinent; it creates an unbreakable tie between the nation that is fueled by love, a sizable fan base, and respect for all Indian cricket players. There is always a sense of community, brothers, and unadulterated passion for the game, whether fans are watching a game in the stadium, at home, or via the glass door of a posh restaurant. When you watch India play cricket, no one will ever ask you about your religion or your line of work because you are absorbed in the game, which has the elusive ability to unite, heal, and forgive.
The severity of the emotion around the game can be felt especially in the game between India and Pakistan, which can take celebration and destruction both to new levels. In a nation like India, where various religions are accepted as part of its secular constitution, cricket is the religion that unites supporters like no other.
Some claim that hockey is the nation’s national sport, although by a significant margin, cricket can be considered the sport with the largest fan base. India’s national sport is cricket, which has millions of devoted devotees. The fervent cricket fans greatly adore Men in Blue, and their fame surpasses that of any other star.
The quickest method to make friends with an Indian is through cricket. Anywhere in India, one may see a group of young people playing cricket with a lot of excitement.
It was frequently claimed that cricket was on the decline in England, the sport’s birthplace. With England winning the 2019 World Cup, things have just changed, but can they compare to what cricket has achieved in India? Doubtful. Cricket seems to have lost its luster even in the West Indies. Aside from the T20 mania, only a small number of people follow cricket in nations like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, and even a strong nation like South Africa.
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