There are around 136.3 million sports fans in India. This popularity of sporting content presents an opportunity for TV and streaming providers to raise revenue by screening events involving the country's top four sports: football, cricket, field hockey, and kabaddi. Keep reading for more insights into these four most popular sports in India.
Football
Even though the Indian national team didn't qualify for the World Cup 2022, it's still expected to attract the biggest ever football audience in the country. The massive audience shows how big the sport is in India. Football fans watch the Indian Super League (ISL) and stream action from top European leagues. Their love of the sport also leads them to other pop culture activities that football influences, such as watching a Bollywood release like Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal or worldwide hits like Escape to Victory and Bend it Like Beckham. There's even online casino games like Champions Gold by elk slots that replicate the excitement of the beautiful game into engaging slots action. This pop culture content keeps football enthusiasts entertained between competitive matches.
Cricket
Cricket has been a popular sport in India for almost a century and is the country's most played and watched sport. Enthusiasm for the sport increased when the Indian Premier League (IPL) began in 2008. This tournament consists of a round-robin and knockout format. It takes place across different Indian cities with many top international players involved. In addition to this tournament, Indian cricket fans can watch the national team compete. As of October 2022, the India men's cricket team is ranked second in tests, third in one-day internationals (ODIs), and first in T20 internationals.
Field Hockey
India has the most successful hockey team in Olympic history. The team won gold in the 1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964, and 1980 Olympics with an overall record of 83 victories from 134 matches played at the Olympic level. After the 1980 success, the team experienced a dip in form, and interest in field hockey declined. However, in recent years, there has been a resurgence in enthusiasm for the sport in India. The national team took part in its first FIH Pro League, achieving victories over Australia, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Kabaddi
Kabaddi is a combative sport consisting of two sides of seven players. It's a traditional sport in India that each generation passes down to the next. India competed at kabaddi in four Asian Games and won each. Suranjeevi is the form of kabaddi played most often in the world, including at the Asian Games. The other types of kabaddi are amar, huttuttoo, and gaminee. Today, people in India can watch the Pro Kabaddi League alongside other professional sports leagues.
Conclusion
Each of these four sports has a large following in India. While cricket is the most popular sport overall, football is gaining ground due to its worldwide influence and presence in popular culture. Field hockey and kabaddi have fewer fans than the other two sports. Still, they complete a sporting landscape in India that's diverse and exciting.