Over the past several decades, India has witnessed numerous modes of mass entertainment come and go like waves, but one particular element among them has refused to go away, regardless of the nation’s financial, political or social circumstances. Cricket has evolved in India from a mere popular sport or pastime to the heartbeat of millions, proudly designated as the common interest of all kinds of people, breaking down the barriers of class, financial status, age or gender. A national or international cricket match remains a priority concern for all citizens, leading to large-scale media coverage and a certain industrialization of the game.
Subsequently, the hype of cricket in India has caused increasing concern among a number of Indians about the current and future status of other sports in the country. While cricket is vigorously celebrated across the country, it has unknowingly outshone almost all other sports, including the national sport. Gone are the days when the entire nation used to hold its breath along with hockey commentary broadcast on the radio. The new talents of the Indian cricket team gain fame and quickly spread across the country and beyond while newcomers in other sports are not even publicly recognized.
The main reason behind the uncontrolled domination of cricket in India can be attributed to the introduction of televisions into local homes with the dramatic victory of the Indian cricket team in the 1983 Cricket World Cup. This instilled a deep and growing interest among the people towards this game. leading to the current state with the help of other factors. The next very important causal force can be recognized as the clash of eras of the country’s rapid economic and financial development with the advent of a prodigal Indian cricket team.
Cricket has very easily received a conducive environment in India, mainly due to the lack of strong competition, as very few countries take cricket seriously as a sport, and even those that do, consider it a secondary sport. Also, since the closest available youth icons in India for media publicity are cricketers, BCCI, taking advantage of the situation, took cricket to great heights making it the highest paying sport in the nation. As a result, if Indian parents ever want their children to become professional sportsmen, cricket is mostly their only option, chalking it up to the fame, luxury and wealth associated with it.
Obviously, not only is the government providing insufficient financial support and stimulus to the teams or individual players of most other sports, but even the society does not pay enough attention to other games due to the conventional practice of Indians to refrain from experiment and follow the rules. multitudes doing what is popularly accepted. In particular, while Indian cricketers are paid in rupee crores, many other sportsmen face difficulties in earning even a modest living. If the current trend continues, an eerie phase of torpor will grip Indian sports, limiting it to cricket alone.
