Are you a vast Indian cricket fan and want to know more about the history of this magnificent sport? Not many people know that the British government was the one that brought this sport to India. Or that the first match was played back in 1721. However, there are so many interesting facts that you shouldn’t miss. In this post, we share all you need to know about the history of Indian cricket.
The beginnings of Indian cricket
India is known for the many social games meant to entertain people of any age. For example, Andar Bahar is a famous card game that has been around for centuries. Indians have always found ways to entertain with friends and have fun. Cricket is the legacy from the times when Britain ruled India. The first cricket game was played in 1721. However, it is considered to be an unofficial game. The first official game was played in 1932 when a stunning England-India match took place. Nowadays, cricket is the most popular sport in India.
Parsee Oriental Cricket Club
The Parsee Oriental Cricket Club marked the beginnings of cricket in India. Known as the first club in history, it marked the beginnings of a new era. With the first match held in Mumbai, the sport wasn’t initially widely accepted by Indians. Officially, the first match was played in 1877, featuring a stunning rivalry between Europeans and the Parsee Oriental.
Increasing popularity
Soon, cricket became famous among sports enthusiasts. Initially, India didn’t have a national cricket team. However, they had a few strong players, which made it up for the lack of a defined team. Some of the names mentioned throughout history are Duleep Singhji and Maharaja Ranjit Singh. In the second half of the 19th century, sports enthusiasm reached every part of India.
Indian cricket 1950-2000
In 1952, India won a match against Pakistan. This incredible rivalry features prominent Indian players, who amazed the audience with their performance.
Despite the multiple wins on home terrain, India started playing internationally in the ’60s. With the fantastic win against New Zealand, many high-performance players got the hype that they deserve. Some of the names famous for this period are Dilip Sardesai, Chandu Borde, and Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.
During the 1970’s India’s cricket players increased their international presence. In 1971 they scored impressive wins in England and West Indies. At this time, Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Vishwanath were known as the best batsmen.
During the ’80s, India won prominent matches and prestigious cups. In 1983, India’s players won the Cricket World Cup. This was followed by a consecutive win in 1984 when India became a winner in the Asian Cup. The glory didn’t stop there, as they also won the World Championship of Cricket in Australia.
In the ’90s, the cricket team faced inconveniences. The team structure was changed, why some of the famous players got lifetime bans. However, the situation improved significantly after 2000. The team got a new coach, which led to a few wins.
Indian cricket 2000
When John Wright began coaching the team, things went on the better. Shortly after, they came strong in the match against Australia. This victory gave the team the strength to win a few more test matches against Sri Lanka, England, Zimbabwe, and West Indies.
In 2003, India participated in the Cricket World Cup. They started pretty strong and managed to get to the finals. However, things change pretty quickly. After putting in the effort to get into the final, they were defeated by Australia.
