Cricket in India

  Cricket is not the most popular game in India, but is a bona fide religion. Cricket star are adored as gods and often outshine celebrities in the country. Cricket in India can be compared football in Brazil or Germany. Historically, cricket's origins are related to England in the middle of the 16th century. Though it was simple game, it soon began to spread globally with the expansion of the British Empire in the countries like Australia, South Africa, West Indies and Indian Sub-Continent.

  The first ever match of first class cricket played in India was in 1864 which was Madras vs Calcutta. Soon, Indian Cricket team became a member of the 'elite club' joining Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand and the West Indies in June 1932. India's first match in Lords against England attracted a massive crowd of 24,000 people including the King of the United Kingdom.

  The Indian national cricket team has a storied history of success in international tournaments. They have secured the Cricket World Cup twice: first in 1983, defeating the West Indies, and again in 2011, overcoming Sri Lanka. In the ICC T20 World Cup, India claimed their inaugural title in 2007 by edging out Pakistan in a thrilling final and added a second title in 2024 with a victory over South Africa. Additionally, India has won the ICC Champions Trophy twice: sharing the honor with Sri Lanka in 2002 and achieving an outright win against England in 2013

Indian Cricket Team (Men)

  Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar

Indian Cricket Team (Women)

  Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Dayalan Hemalatha, Sajeevan Sajana, Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia, Uma Chetry, Sneh Rana, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Priya Mishra, Saika Ishaque, Renuka Singh Thakur, Saima Thakor, Meghna Singh, Sayali Satghare. Sneh Rana, Pooja Vastrakar, Poonam Yadav, Radha Yadav.

BCCI

  The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), established in December 1928 under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, remains the governing body for cricket in India and continues to be the richest cricket board in the world. As of 2025, the BCCI's key leadership includes Roger Binny as President, Jay Shah as Honorary Secretary, Devajit Saikia as Joint Secretary, and Prabhtej Singh Bhatia as Treasurer. In August 2024, Jay Shah was elected as the youngest-ever ICC Chairman, beginning his tenure on December 1, 2024, after succeeding Greg Barclay.

  In terms of coaching staff, the Indian men's cricket team appointed Gautam Gambhir as Head Coach in July 2024, replacing Rahul Dravid, while former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel took over as Bowling Coach. The women's team, on the other hand, saw changes in its coaching setup, with Amol Muzumdar being appointed as the Head Coach in late 2023. These leadership changes reflect BCCI’s continued efforts to strengthen Indian cricket at both domestic and international levels.

Some of the most popular Indian Cricket players

Virat Kohli-The Run machine

  Virat Kohli, born on November 5, 1988, is one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history. He led India to major victories, including the 2011 World Cup and the 2018-19 Test series win in Australia. Known for his aggressive style and fitness, he has 80+ international centuries and is the fastest to 10,000 ODI runs.As India’s captain (2013-2021), he transformed the team's mindset, making them a dominant force in Tests and limited-overs cricket. He holds the record for the most runs in IPL history and led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) since 2008.Kohli has won multiple ICC awards, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (2018), and the Padma Shri (2017).

Rohit Sharma – The Hitman of Indian Cricket

  Rohit Sharma, born on April 30, 1987, is one of India's greatest batsmen and captains. Known for his elegant stroke play and effortless six-hitting, he is the only player to score three ODI double centuries, including the highest-ever 264. He also holds the record for most T20I centuries (5).As Mumbai Indians’ captain, he led them to five IPL titles. He became India’s full-time captain in 2022, guiding the team to the 2024 T20 World Cup victory. Rohit is a Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee and a global cricketing icon.

Jasprit Bumrah – India's Pace Spearhead

  Jasprit Bumrah, born on December 6, 1993, is India's top fast bowler, known for his lethal yorkers and unorthodox action. He made his international debut in 2016 and quickly became India's go-to bowler in all formats.Bumrah was instrumental in India’s historic Test series wins in Australia (2018-19, 2020-21) and played a key role in the 2024 T20 World Cup victory. He is the fastest Indian pacer to 150 Test wickets and captained India in Tests and ODIs. With multiple ICC awards, he is among the world's best bowlers.

Ravindra Jadeja – India’s Ultimate All-Rounder

  Ravindra Jadeja, born on December 6, 1988, is one of India's finest all-rounders, known for his explosive batting, accurate left-arm spin, and exceptional fielding.He played a crucial role in India’s 2013 Champions Trophy win, the 2021 and 2023 World Test Championship Finals, and the 2024 T20 World Cup victory. Jadeja is among India’s highest wicket-taking spinners in Tests and a match-winner in all formats. His lightning-fast fielding and crucial knocks make him an indispensable asset to the team.

Hardik Pandya – India's Star All-Rounder

  Hardik Pandya, born on October 11, 1993, is a dynamic all-rounder known for his powerful hitting, pace bowling, and athletic fielding.He was instrumental in India’s 2017 Champions Trophy campaign, led Gujarat Titans to IPL victory in 2022, and played a key role in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup win. As a finisher and impact player, Hardik is a game-changer in all formats and a future leader in Indian cricket.

KL Rahul – India’s Stylish Batter

  KL Rahul, born on April 18, 1992, is a versatile batter known for his elegant stroke play and adaptability across formats. He has scored centuries in all three formats, including a debut Test century overseas.Rahul has captained India in various matches and led Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL. His ability to anchor innings or accelerate as needed makes him a key player in India’s batting lineup.

Rishabh Pant – India’s Explosive Wicketkeeper-Batter

  Rishabh Pant, born on October 4, 1997, is a fearless left-handed batter known for his aggressive stroke play and match-winning knocks.He played a pivotal role in India’s historic Test series win in Australia (2020-21), including his iconic 89 at the Gabba*. A game-changer in all formats, Pant is also a reliable wicketkeeper and a future leader in Indian cricket.

Mohammed Shami – India’s Swing King

  Mohammed Shami, born on September 3, 1990, is one of India's finest fast bowlers, known for his reverse swing, pace, and accuracy.He was a key player in India’s 2015, 2019, and 2023 ODI World Cup campaigns, finishing as the highest wicket-taker in the 2023 edition (24 wickets). Shami has played crucial roles in Test and ODI victories worldwide, making him one of India's most dependable pacers.

Suryakumar Yadav – India’s Mr. 360

  Suryakumar Yadav, born on September 14, 1990, is a dynamic batter known for his innovative stroke play and aggressive approach.He made his India debut in 2021 and quickly became a T20I superstar, earning the ICC T20I Cricketer of the Year award in 2022 and 2023. With his unorthodox shots and fearless batting, SKY was crucial in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup victory and is a key player in white-ball cricket.

Yashasvi Jaiswal – India’s Rising Star

  Yashasvi Jaiswal, born on December 28, 2001, is a talented left-handed batter known for his aggressive stroke play and consistency.From selling pani puri to fund his cricket dreams to becoming an IPL sensation, Jaiswal made a stunning Test debut in 2023 with a century. He was a key performer in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup campaign and is seen as a future star in all formats

Sanju Samson – India’s Flamboyant Wicketkeeper-Batter

  Sanju Samson, born on November 11, 1994, is a stylish right-handed batter known for his aggressive stroke play and composure under pressure.A standout performer in the IPL, he captains Rajasthan Royals and has delivered several match-winning knocks. Though his India opportunities have been limited, his talent makes him a strong contender for a permanent spot in the national team.

Shubman Gill – The Future of Indian Cricket

  Shubman Gill, born on September 8, 1999, is a stylish right-handed batter known for his elegant stroke play and consistency.He played a crucial role in India’s historic Test series win in Australia (2020-21) and became the youngest player to score a double century in ODIs (208 vs NZ, 2023). Gill is regarded as a future captain and a key pillar of India's batting lineup across formats.

IPL 2025