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“Cricket has a unique role in the vision of Viksit Bharat, as it occupies a special place in India’s sporting ecosystem and has already started to play an important role in meeting its goals in several ways — such as uniting diverse communities, creating career and entrepreneurship, boosting tourism and empowering rural and women athletes”.
In India, cricket is not just a game played by two teams, but an emotion, a feeling, and a story of unity and dreams seen in an open night sky. From sandy, dusty, and muddy playgrounds of villages to the clean, vibrant, world-class stadium grounds filled with the cheering and roaring of audiences and fans, cricket has touched every Indian heart — be it a little boy from a village or an experienced expert winner of the match in one way or another. This journey, which once started during colonial rule, began to soar high in the sky of India with national passion and pride.
The game, which was slow, patient, and elegant at that time — Test matches — came alive for the first time in India during the British era, when the country’s first Test match was played in 1932 at Lord’s. This match was marked as the beginning of India’s global presence. But it was the One Day International (ODI) era that truly transformed the identity of Indian cricket. This happened in 1983 when, during the World Cup victory under Kapil Dev’s captaincy, everything changed and gave the nation a new belief that even India — once a colonized country — could conquer the world. This win turned the wheels of cricket completely and gave the nation an emotion that connects people across class, religion, and language.
Then came the bigger chapter — the T20 revolution. The 2007 T20 World Cup which was led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni changed that slow, patient and boring game into a fast and thrilling version that matched the energy of modern, independent India and Youth. Soon after, the T20 IPL (Indian Premier League) came into light in 2008, filling cricket with entertainment, business, and youth culture. Hence, it became one of the richest sports in the world. Culturally, India began to celebrate cricket victories like national festivals and defeats like heartbreaks. The older generation watched Tests, parents cheered for ODIs, and the younger generation lived for T20 and IPL. Economically, cricket alone built a huge financial ecosystem, contributing thousands of crores annually to India’s GDP and making the BCCI the wealthiest cricket body in the world.
Cricket in the Vision of Viksit Bharat 2047
Viksit Bharat, or “Developed India,” which aims to celebrate the country’s 100th anniversary of independence in 2047 and achieve full development, including economic strength, social equality, technological advancement, environmental sustainability, and international respect. To achieve this goal The government of India has started a number of initiatives. The budget for the Ministry of Youth and Affairs and sports got raised Rupees 3794 crores in this FY 2025-26 which is over 130%above the allocation of 2014-15. Some flagship programs like Khelo India, Fit India Movement, Khelo Bharat Niti, talent programs, and other initiatives have already begun to bloom.
Cricket has a unique role in this vision of Viksit Bharat, as it occupies a special place in India’s sporting ecosystem. For cricket, Viksit Bharat has already started to play an important role in meeting its goals in several ways — such as uniting diverse communities, as cricket is India’s national passion followed by both rich and poor, young and old. From local gullies to World Cup grounds, villages have their own teams and local tournaments that unite communities of all backgrounds cheering together.
The second goal, i.e., careers and entrepreneurship, is already booming and creating millions of jobs and new, bright career paths. According to reports, the Indian sports management sector is growing at around 15% per year, much faster than the global average. The sports industry alone is creating employment opportunities in various sectors such as sports management, coaching, marketing, broadcasting, event management, hospitality, and sports science. The IPL and other leagues are supporting tens of thousands of jobs in ticketing, merchandise, and media.
The third goal includes economic stimulus and tourism. Hosting an IPL match brings thousands of audiences and fans, resulting in filling of hotels and restaurants and pumping money into local economies. According to the National Tourism Board and transport sector reports, the cricket season brings significant travel demand, resulting in economic growth. Infrastructure built for cricket — be it stadiums or training centers — also has a huge impact. For example, the newly built Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, with 1,32,000 seats, is the largest cricket stadium in the world and is generating economic growth for India.
The fourth goal, which is empowering rural and women athletes, is already targeting inclusivity. Government schemes like Khelo India include ‘Sports for Women,’ aiming to create a supportive environment and empower girls to play. Many current men’s and women’s team players hail from small towns or humble village backgrounds. Their success stories are often highlighted by the media to demonstrate that the sports can also offer paths escaping poverty and traditional norms .
To support these goals, the government has already approved hundreds of new projects and is rapidly upgrading sports infrastructure and setting high targets — like 326 facilities worth ₹3,124 crores under Khelo India and the Motera Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad rebuilt with ₹800 crores and 1,32,000 seats. Many new stadiums have been funded by state and central governments through public-private partnerships, and dozens of sports centers and academies have been inaugurated, including hockey fields and cricket pitches.
Apart from building infrastructure, funding talents or supporting athletes , India has initiated another program which is TOPS ( Target Olympics Podium Scheme), as cricket is going to return to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028 in the T20 format. Under this scheme the players will be provided coaching, sports science and international exposure making sure that India’s youth are ready to compete at any level .
In summary, sports — cricket in particular — are woven into India’s national development strategy under Viksit Bharat. As India marches toward its 2047 goals, the government envisions that every medal, record, and success story will testify to the Viksit Bharat journey and Sports can stand as a mirror full of energy and unity.
Email: hajrabano1910@gmail.com
