Cricket is the national sport of India and was first introduced by European merchant sailors in the 18th century. The first cricket club in India was established in Calcutta (currently known as Kolkata) in 1792, India's national cricket team did not play its first Test match until 25 June 1932.
Cricket is now the number one sport India and now millions of Indian fans watch it live every year both in India and around the world every year.
You might have watched an Indian cricket game on television but nothing actually compares to attending a live match. The atmosphere is amazing with street parties, events, music and entertainment.
If you are interested in the idea of visiting India, and also love cricket, you really need to plan ahead and check out the schedule of the biggest cricket tournaments taking place throughout the country. You will get to see vibrant sporting events and also go sightseeing to see world famous locations like the Taj Mahal in your spare time.
There are 6 national trophies you can attend and also international matches which are some of the live best sporting events in the world. For dates and times, be sure to stay informed with latest sports and cricket news on stumped.app.
Now, check out our guide to the best major cricket tournaments in India you need to check out and start planning a trip today:
1. International Cricket
Sport is an important part of Indian culture and if possible, you should try to also watch an international cricket game. The Indian international cricket squad has some of the best players in the world and you will get to see possibly the next Sachin Tendulkar.
The Indian national cricket team currently ranks in first position in test, second in ODI, and 3rd place in T20I. India has won two World Cups in 1983 with captain Kapil Dev and 2011 with under Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Most national games are played during the summer season and sometimes getting tickets can be tough but possible. The Indian team are also fierce rivals to the Pakistani team, and India-Pakistan matches are some of the most-anticipated matches and most-watched television events in the country.
2. Indian Premier League
The Indian Premier League, also known as, the IPL, is probably the most well known tournament on our list. This event is very popular and is considered one of the most anticipated events in India.
Established in 2008 by the Cricket Control Board (BCCI), it was the brainchild of Lalit Modi, the founder and former league commissioner. Teams represent the 8 largest cities and states in India and play under Twenty20 rules. The best players from around the world compete every year.
The IPL is now the most well attended cricket league in the world. In 2014, it was ranked the sixth place for the average attendance among all worldwide sports leagues! It also became the first sporting event to be live broadcast on YouTube.
In 2018, the IPL's brand value was $6.3 billion, according to Duff & Phelps and in 2015 alone, the IPL contributed $182 million GDP to the Indian economy.
3. The Ranjit Trophy
The Ranjit Trophy is a domestic 1st class contest played by squads which represent local and state cricket associations. It currently involves 37 squads from 29 national states and 2 out of 7 union territories. The competition is named after Ranjitsinji (also known as Ranjit) — the 1st national cricket player who performed at international tournaments.
4. The Duleep Cup
The Duleep Cup another popular domestic tournament which started in 1961-62. Named after Kumar Sri Dalipzinji from Nawanagar (also known as “Duleep”), the Cup initially included squads representing the five zones - North Zone, South Zone, East Zone, West Zone and Central Zone. The tournament changes every year and teams compete on a knock-out basis. The Duleep Cup was where cricket matches first played in India with the pink ball. Now the league also recruits international players to also take part.
5. The Deodhar Cup
The Deodhar Trophy is an A List cricket competition in Indian domestic cricket. The competition was introduced in 1973-74 season and is still played on an annual basis with the 3 national level teams - India A, India B and India C.
6. The Irani Cup
The Irani ZR Cup (formerly called the Iranian Trophy) was launched during the 1959-1960 season to celebrate the completion of the 25 anniversary of the Ranjit Trophy Cup. The competition is held annually between the current Ranjit Trophy winners and the other teams.
7. NKP Salve Challenger Trophy
This contest was introduced in the 1994-1995 season and aimed to demonstrate the talents that the nations players had. The NKP Salve Challenger Trophy was named after the president of the NKP Salve — the man who brought the World Cup to the subcontinent in 1987.
The annual event is played by three teams, consisting of 36 best players in the country. The teams were named as India Senior and India A & B. Later they changed their names for India Blue, Red and Green, respectively.
If you are thinking about the best time to visit India, dates and venues change every year you so you will need to check well in-advance before booking your flight. Some companies offer sporting tours of India which can make the whole experience of travelling here easier.
If you are a sports fan, you won't regret visiting incredible India!
