Cricket: A Religion or Sport in India?

Cricket is certainly a very popular sport in India, and it has a special place in the hearts of many Indians. Many people in India follow cricket closely, and the sport has become an important part of the country's culture and identity. In fact, cricket is often described as a "Religion" in India, due to the passion and devotion that many people have for the game. It is not uncommon to see people discussing cricket and debating the merits of different players and teams on the streets, in cafes, and in homes throughout the country.

Cricket has undergone significant changes in its forms over the years. The traditional form of the game, known as Test cricket, is played over five days with two innings per team, and it remains the pinnacle of the sport. However, with the increasing popularity of shorter, more fast-paced forms of cricket, such as One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 (T20) cricket, the game has evolved to meet the changing preferences of fans and players. While Test cricket remains the ultimate test of a player's skill and endurance, the shorter forms of the game have helped to make the sport more exciting and accessible to a wider audience.

Since 1983, when team India won its first ODI Cricket World Cup in England, there has been great attraction in the nation for the sport among people from all age groups, especially youth. Despite all the difficulties and setbacks at that time, Indian cricket team captain, Kapil Dev, was the one who believed in and demonstrated that Indians can excel on the world arena. The struggle and triumph of the amazing tournament are shown in the Bollywood movie "83" released in the year 2021 in which famous Indian actor Ranveer Singh wonderfully portrayed the role of Kapil Dev.

The golden era of Indian cricket began in the 90s with the rise of prominent batting players such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly at international level. Very soon Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni entered into limelight in the 21st century for their quick batting skills and explosive shots. The game started attracting more sponsorships, thus turning Indian Cricket Board BCCI into the world's richest Cricket Board. Today, the business of the game has crossed millions of dollars in India annually with a huge fan following. Indian cricket has got further boost at global level with the introduction of T20 Indian Premier League (IPL) in the year 2008, which is very popular among millions of cricket crazy fans across the world and generates enormous revenues for the Indian cricket every year.

Cricket has become a symbol of national unity, and its impact goes beyond the boundaries of sports. The sport has inspired and motivated generations of Indian youth, and it has been a source of hope, joy, and inspiration for millions of people in the country. In summary, cricket has become more than just a sport in India. It has become a cultural phenomenon, a unifying force, and a source of national pride. Hence, it is not an exaggeration to say that cricket is like a religion to many people in India with famous cricket player, Sachin Tendulkar, considered as "The God of Cricket".