Sports attracts people from all corners of the world to witness sporting events and matches. However, while some sports have universal appeal, others are restricted to certain countries, depending on a nation's cultural, traditional, and historical background. This article will delve into India's most popular sports and highlight the factors that contribute to their popularity.
Let’s check out what sports are most played in India, along with brief descriptions of each, providing you with a deeper understanding of India's sporting culture.
Cricket
It’s not a big surprise that cricket is by far the most popular sport in India. The British introduced it to India during the 17th and 18th centuries, and it quickly gained popularity. It first appeared in the Indian subcontinent before spreading to other parts of India. Initially played by the Indian elite, it has become much more accessible to players of all social classes.
The Indian National Cricket Team, also known as Team India or Men in Blue, was established in the 20th century and played its first international match in 1932. However, the first cricket club in India was established much earlier, in 1792.
Over the years, India has produced some of the most famous cricket star players, such as Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, and MS Dhoni, among others.
India’s national team has won the Cricket World Cup twice, which further explains why the game is so popular in the country.
Cricket has been tied with sports betting for many years now, providing fans with an exciting opportunity to raise the stakes and become more invested in the game. Sport lovers either bet in-person, go online using betwinner promo code or simply do friendly bets with each other.
Kabaddi
Kabaddi is a contact team sport that originated in India, specifically in the Indian subcontinent. It was inspired by the traditional Jallikattu event, in which a group of individuals attempt to grab and hang on to a bull as it runs and jumps around. Two teams, each consisting of seven players, play Kabaddi. Each team is positioned on one side of the court.
One player on offense runs towards the opposite side of the court and attempts to touch as many players as possible on the opposing team. The player must then run back to their side of the court without being tackled by the opposing team members. These are the basic rules, but there are a few more rules to the game.
Kabaddi has been part of the Asian Games programme since 1990 and is extremely popular in India. Being the originator of the game, it’s not surprising that India has won the Kabaddi World Cup, which also features other countries such as Malaysia and Iran.
The Pro Kabaddi League was established in 2014 to help promote the sport and spread it to new continents, which is happening very slowly.
Other Popular Sports in India
Yet again, mostly brought to the country by the British - Football (soccer), Badminton, and Field Hockey are other popular sports in India, with success in the World Cups and global events contributing to their appeal.
A note on field hockey - Ice hockey is costly and difficult to play in India, which is why field hockey is played instead. Teams play on grass, on a field (usually synthetic), on different types of turf (watered or artificial), or on an indoor boarded surface.
Football and Badminton are very well known sports to most of the world, so we’ll skip those.
Final words
To sum it up, India has a diverse and vibrant sports culture which are deeply ingrained in Indian society and have a significant impact on the country's identity and sense of pride.
As India continues to develop and grow, its sports industry is expected to continue to expand and evolve, providing new opportunities for athletes, fans, and even bettors alike.