Cricket
The popularity of cricket in India is unparalleled compared to interest generated by a specific sport in the other country. Brazil and Argentina do compare in terms of an identical obsession with football. But the sheer number of cricket followers in India tilts the balance eastwards.
India has won two Cricket World Cups, the primary one back in 1983 and therefore the latter in 2011
The reasons behind the sustained popularity of cricket are many. India’s performance in cricket features a huge role to play in its sustained popularity.
From the planet Cup in 1983 to the Champions Trophy in 2013. India has remained in contention for the highest prize in international cricket. This era has been marked by a number of the simplest cricketers in Indian cricket and therefore the world has ever seen the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, MS Dhoni, and lots of more. To the mega endorsement deals, cricketers tend to land regularly.
In a country hooked to fame and exclusivity, cricketers are amongst. The foremost revered personalities within the country.
With a replacement generation of cricketers being led by Virat Kohli. One can expect many goodies from the present crop of Indian players within the future. Future considering the regular inflow of talent with every passing generation.
Football
The most popular sport within the world, football remains an enigma in India. Famously called the ‘sleeping giant’ of the footballing world by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, football is primarily a sport in India. While the ISL has garnered a hefty base of followers in India, it’s the large following of European club tournaments which forms the roots of football’s popularity in India.
The Indian eleven is currently ranked 105 within the world. Considering the population of India and therefore the demographics of a number of the opposite countries who have qualified for the planet Cup within the past few years, the failure to qualify.
The popularity of football in India remains stoked by the sizable following of European football in urban centers of the country. To encourage a culture of football within the subcontinent and India especially, many top European clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea have dedicated fan groups during which are connected with supporters across the planet.
These efforts made by European footballing bodies have created an entire generation of young Indians who follow and support top clubs based in England, Spain, Germany, and Italy.
Following the instance set by European clubs, India has its own league now, the Indian Soccer League (ISL). The tournament recorded a viewership of nearly 160 million during its first season in 2014.
Kabaddi
While different sports in India like badminton and hockey would have nabbed the third spot a couple of years back, kabaddi has returned to the middle stage of Indian sports.
Amongst the normal Indian sports, kabaddi has returned. To the mainstream with the unforeseen rise of the Pro-Kabaddi League held annually across various cities in India. In 2014, the PKL became the second hottest league in India, bested only by the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Having established a robust viewer base and a group of willing sponsors. There and establishing new viewers who slowly learning more about the game.
India and Iran are the 2 top kabaddi playing nations within the world at the instant. India has won all the Kabaddi World Cups until 2017. To rise tremendously in popularity within the coming few years.
