History of Cricket in India
India and cricket share a remarkable bond that goes beyond simple words and encompasses a breadth of emotion that defies simple explanation. Cricket is the most popular sport in India, but it is also a deeply held passion shared by the nation’s citizens.
A monument to the amazing journey this sport has undergone since its inception is the historical development of cricket in India. The development of cricket in the country is a story of expansion and demonstrates the great distance the sport has come since its humble beginnings.
Since cricket is the most popular sport in this country, therefore the emergence of the top cricket betting site is anticipated.
The Inception of Cricket in India
The origins of cricket in India trace back to the 1700s when it was initially introduced by British colonial rulers. The inaugural match took place in 1721, marking the beginning of a captivating journey.
By 1848, the Parsi community residing in Bombay established the Oriental Cricket Club, a pioneering step as it marked the inception of the first cricket club founded by Indians themselves.
India had the rise of notable cricket figures who cut across borders as the early 1900s progressed. Notable personalities are Ranjitsinhji and Duleepsinhji, who distinguished themselves by joining the England cricket team.
The famous Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy were later named in their honor due to the lasting impact of their legacy.
This crucial turn of events created the groundwork for India’s fascinating cricket history and launched a story that has captured the nation’s attention to this moment.
In 1911, the Indian team embarked on their inaugural official tour of the British Isles. However, they solely engaged in matches against English county teams and did not compete against the England cricket team.
Inaugural Test Match
In 1926, India joined the Imperial Cricket Council and (ICC) debuted as a test-playing nation in 1932 in England, led by CK Naidu. The first match against England at Lord’s in London ended in a 158-run loss.
In 1933, India hosted its inaugural test series. The country’s first series as an independent nation was in late 1947 versus Australia.
India beat England in Madras in 1952 to win its first test match. Their first series victory over Pakistan occurred in the same year. In 1961–1962, the team defeated New Zealand before winning its first home game against England.
India defeated New Zealand in a series for the first time outside of the subcontinent in 1967–1968.
Legendary cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Viswanath were well-known throughout the 1970s. In 1971, under the captaincy of Ajit Wadekar, they helped India defeat the West Indies and England in two straight series.
First ODI and World Cup
India faced England in its first One-Day International (ODI) match in 1974. India initially struggled in ODIs and failed to advance through the first round in each of the first two World Cup tournaments.
The 1980s witnessed India transforming their batting approach, featuring aggressive players like Mohammad Azharuddin, Dilip Vengsarkar, all-rounder Kapil Dev, and Ravi Shastri.
In 1983, India achieved a historic turning point by winning their first World Cup, defeating West Indies in the final at Lord’s, and reshaping the course of cricket in the country.
India won both the World Cricket Championships in Australia in 1985 and the Asia Cup in 1984. Gavaskar and Kapil Dev both gave their best performances throughout the 1980s.
Gavaskar set a record with 34 centuries in tests and was the first player to reach 10,000 run marks. With 434 wickets, Kapil Dev became the test cricket’s top wicket-taker.
Cricket in India in the 21st century
The Indian squad advanced significantly under the leadership of Sourav Ganguly and with the support of John Wright. With a victory in 2001, they kept their perfect home record against Australia in the test series.
India and Sri Lanka split the ICC Champions Trophy that year. India lost against Australia in the 2003 Cricket World Cup final despite making it there.
From 2003 to 2004, India played a drawn test series in Australia and secured a test and ODI series win in Pakistan. However, 2004 saw a decline due to form and fitness issues among senior players. They faced defeats in a home test series against Australia and an ODI series versus Pakistan.
Players like MS Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, and Yuvraj Singh made their debuts in 2005. India moved up to second place in the ICC ODI standings after winning the home series against Sri Lanka and drawing the series with South Africa.
Under Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s management, the Indian squad experienced a comeback at the start of 2007.
Global Success
India defeated Australia 4-0 in a home test series at the beginning of 2013, 3-2 in a seven-match ODI series, and also won a lone T20 match. The same year, India emerged victorious against England in the ICC Champions Trophy, with MS Dhoni becoming the first Indian cricket captain to clinch all three major ICC trophies.
Under the leadership of new captain Virat Kohli, India began a dominant phase in-home test series.
The first of their 19 test matches without a loss came in 2015 when they defeated South Africa. Players like Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin also became more popular during this time.
India’s triumphs against Bangladesh and Australia were followed by a 4-0 test series victory over England, continuing their winning streak. India succeeded in doing so, becoming the third side to triumph in a test series against every other test-playing country.
In 2017, they won 8 straight test series, extending their unblemished streak to that point.
Moving to the 2019 World Cup, India excelled in the group stage with 7 wins, only suffering a loss to the host nation England. Despite reaching the semifinals, India was defeated by England
India began their cricket season in 2020 by winning the T20 series 2-0 against Sri Lanka. In addition, they defeated Australia 2-0 in 3 one-day internationals (ODIs).
The Popularity of Cricket in India
Numerous factors contribute to cricket’s enormous popularity, explaining why Indians are more interested in watching games, especially during major events. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge the growing influence of sports betting in cricket.
To bet on their preferred teams, players search for the top cricket betting site in India, enhancing the enjoyment of the game.
