Just how big is cricket in India?

Even though it can provide a variety of different opinions around the world, cricket is a hugely popular sport that has billions of people across the globe following it.

Admittedly, many of those billions that watch the game hail from India, with research from the International Cricket Council (ICC) finding that the Indian sub-continent alone constitutes for more than 90 per cent of them.

Indeed, it would not be an understatement or an exaggeration to suggest that the sport is like a religion for many Indians, as many play the game when they are young, whilst many follow the sport as they become an adult.

Cricket has emerged as a huge betting market

Naturally, with the continued evolution of the game and the team’s ability to do rather well throughout the history of the sport, there has been a greater interest in betting on cricket, too, as many are now heading to the online bookies where they are able to enjoy the best odds and markets possible. So, if you are dabbling in the betting scene to back your favourite team, you can also try your luck by playing at these honest casinos.

According to data, it has been estimated that Indian cricket fans bet $50-60 million per match on the Indian Premier League (IPL), thus highlighting just how big the sport is in the country. The IPL is one of the biggest tournaments in the entire sport, with the world’s best limited-overs players coming from around the world to earn a significant payday to play in front of extremely passionate crowds to entertain the rest of the world. India, though, comes to a standstill as everyone gets involved with this annual competition.

Following proves how big cricket is for Indians

You only have to look at the matches that India plays in as a country to understand how passionate the country is for its national sport. Whether it be a test match, or a limited-overs game; an exhibition, a tour of a different country or major tournaments such as the ICC World Cup, you can guarantee that the Indian national team will have the vast majority of support regardless of where they are in the world due to the following the country has.

Indeed, many of the Indian celebrities that are most followed on social media platforms typically come from the sport, as well, with individuals such as Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni having millions of followers.

Despite the fact that you have Bollywood – which has a number of other major celebrities being followed in their millions – the fact that so many continue to follow the country’s biggest cricket stars certainly highlights just how big the sport is in India.

Why is cricket so popular with Indians?

There are several reasons that can highlight why cricket is a highly popular sport with Indians, with some suggesting that the simplicity of the game is a major influence. Although there is typically more equipment required than other games, Indians have been able to be rather inventive when possible and have found a way to enjoy the national sport.

Additionally, the rules are easy to follow and understand compared to many other sports, with players simply having to score as many points whilst defending their wicket, whereas those bowling and in the field will need to ensure they keep the run chase as low as possible and take 10 wickets as quickly as possible.

The game can also be played anywhere someone wants, with many using the streets as a playing area when they are unable to get to the numerous cricket pitches that have been made available throughout the entirety of the country. This will have only had a profound impact on the interest in the game on the country’s population from a young age, perhaps in the same way football is in the West and in South American countries.