Anushka Singh points how cricket has overshadowed its original colonial flavour to become a national obsession and a binding force for the people of the country. Once played in presidency and gymkhana clubs, it has become sports’ greatest money spinner. It has emerged as a unifying force that brings people from diverse backgrounds, states, and cultures together, bridging social and cultural divides.
Cricket has come a long way from its origins as a game played by the British in India during the colonial era to becoming a national obsession that brings people from all walks of life together. It has evolved into a sport that is not only popular in India but also across the globe, with an estimated 2.5 billion fans worldwide.
The history of cricket in India dates back to the time when the British soldiers introduced the game to India during the colonial era. However, it wasn’t until the early 20th century that cricket truly began to take shape as a sport in India.
In 1721, a British vessel arrived and docked along the shores of Kutch in western India. The leisure pursuits of the sailors on the coastline sparked interest among bystanders. One of the sailors (mariners) in the East India Company, known as Clement Downing, reminisced about their time on the Kutch coast, at Cambay, in his memoirs. He wrote, “We entertained ourselves daily with games of cricket and various other activities.” This happens to be the earliest recorded reference to cricket in India.
The beginnings
Over time, the British merchants became colonisers and starting to rule the land. Their recreational activities persisted and that’s how cricket began to spread in India.
By some accounts, it was in 1751 that the first recorded Cricket Match was played in India, when the British Army played with the English settlers. Another significant milestone for the sport in the region was the founding of the Calcutta Cricket Club (CCC, now known as CC & FC) in 1792. It was the second-oldest cricket club in the world, following the MCC (1787). A match was played against Barrackpore and Dum Dum.
In 1804, the CCC orchestrated a match against the Old Etonians, a game remembered for Old Etonian Robert Vansittart’s noteworthy century, the first recorded hundred in India. The match was between the Old Etonians vs Rest of Calcutta.
In 1846, the Madras Cricket Club was founded and the sport quickly gained popularity among the British and Indian communities. The formation of cricket clubs and the establishment of cricket stadiums in major cities, such as Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras, played a significant role in the growth of the sport in India.
The Parsis pioneered cricket among civilians in India by forming the Oriental Cricket Club in Mumbai in 1848. Though short-lived, this venture was succeeded by the establishment of the Young Zoroastrians Club in 1850 by the Parsis.
Soon after, the Hindu community formed the Hindu Gymkhana in 1866. By this time, cricket gained momentum in Mumbai and the hub of Mumbai’s cricketing scene was the Esplanade ‘maidan.’ It’s noteworthy to state that at the distant end of this ‘maidan’ lay a parcel of land called Bombay Gymkhana which was restricted to dogs and Indians at the time. In 1883, Muslims in Bombay formed the Muslim Gymkhana.
By this time, cricket was being played in Karachi and Lahore as well. In 1884, a team from Sri Lanka played a match in Calcutta making the sport popular in other countries as well. It was India’s first international cricket venture.
The same year, Parsi Gymkhana was established in Mumbai. In 1892, the first Presidency match was played in Bombay (Europeans v. Parsis). Lord Harris was the Governor of Bombay Province and he was instrumental in promoting cricket in India. He even instituted an annual ‘Presidency’ match between the Parsis and the Europeans.
Princely power
By now, cricket had already spread across the Indian subcontinent. In the 1890s, its popularity surged when the Prince of Nawanagar Kumar Ranjitsinhji dazzled the English with his batting prowess. His mesmerising wristwork and unconventional shots captivated the traditional- minded and closed British spectators.
His success, both with Sussex in the English County Championship and later with the English Test Cricket team elevated him to iconic status within the British Empire. He inspired other princes to embrace Cricket.
This princely patronage, coupled with other developments, fuelled the growth of cricket in India further. H.H. Maharao Umedsinghji of Kotah became the first Indian cricketer to take all ten wickets in an innings, in 1891. Then, in 1898, K S Ranjitsinhji and Col K M Mistri became the first Indians to make a partnership of over 300.
In 1907, the annual Presidency match, initially a contest between Europeans and Parsis, expanded to include Hindus; then the Muslims in 1912, and later Christians and Anglo-Indians.
In 1911, the Maharaja of Patiala sponsored and led an ‘All-India’ team to its maiden tour of England. A left-arm spinner Baloo Palwankar was among the top performers as he took more than a hundred wickets during the tour. He is the greatest Indian cricketer of his time.
In 1927, the Maharaja of Patiala, a British businessman named Grant Govan and Anthony De Mello convened a meeting with representatives from Delhi, Patiala, Sind, Punjab, Rajputana, United Provinces, Bhopal, Gwalior, Baroda, Kathiawar, etc., and key decisions were taken that eventually led to the formation of a Board of Cricket Control to represent cricket in India.
Contemporary cricket
Cricket has grown to become a significant part of India’s sporting culture, with numerous events and tournaments contributing to the sport’s popularity. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most highly anticipated cricket events in the world, attracting millions of spectators and generating billions of dollars in revenue. Additionally, the ICC Cricket World Cup is the most viewed cricket event globally, showcasing the best national teams from around the world.
Cricket in India has produced numerous world-class players, with legendary figures like Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Sunil Gavaskar, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, etc. These players have set numerous records and achieved great success on the international stage, bringing pride and recognition to the sport in the country.
The Indian cricket team, also known as the ‘Men In Blue’, has become one of the strongest in the world, with numerous achievements in various prestigious tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup and the T20 World Cup.
India debuted in ODI in 1974 when the team led by Ajit Wadekar played against England in a two-match ODI series. Indian cricket team’s biggest achievement and a watershed moment in its history was in 1983 when they won their first-ever ODI World Cup by beating West Indies under the captaincy of Kapil Dev.
In the following decades the team went on to win big tournaments. The team won the ICC Champions Trophy twice in 2002 and 2013. They also won their second ODI World Cup in 2011 in a final match played against Sri Lanka, under the captaincy of M S Dhoni at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Beyond sports
Cricket in India goes beyond being just a sport, transcending its status as a game and becoming a symbol of national pride. It has been a unifying force that brings people from diverse backgrounds, states, and cultures together, bridging social and cultural divides. Cricket is revered in India and is often referred to as a religion, with people of all ages and walks of life passionately following the sport.
Cricket has come a long way in India, evolving from a colonial-era game to a national obsession that brings people from all over the country together. It has not only become the second-most popular sport in the world but has also contributed to the development of modern India by promoting national unity, pride, and inspiring upcoming young cricketers.
With its rich history and cultural significance, cricket continues to evolve and thrive, reflecting the resilience and spirit of the Indian people.