- Reams and reams have written about how the Board of Control for Cricket in India is the richest sports body in the world. And this statement is done to death. Ask any cricket mandarins, they are bound to acknowledge this irrefutable fact with absolute nonchalance. The sheer size of India as a country offers the heft, traction, and reach for the BCCI mandarins to cash in on the game’s extreme popularity. You are aware that cricket is treated as no less than religion here; hence, there is no dearth of patrons embracing the game like their own. No street in India is bereft of one or the other form of cricket being played by enthusiasts. The scenario is so common that one would wonder how the game caught such imagination across the country over the years.
PC: Shefali Bindiya
- The revenue pouring into the BCCI coffers in the form of sponsors wishing to associate with the team in any form as well as a rush by the broadcasting and digital mediums is phenomenal. The number of sponsorship deals being signed by the BCCI must be the envy of every cricket-playing country. Add to it the unprecedented success story of the Indian Premier League T20 cricket, the revenue generation for the BCCI is never in question. The result is that thousands of young and budding cricketers profoundly wish to carve out a successful career in cricket. This deluge of talented cricketers opting to ply their skillsets not only lends a competitive edge to the cricketing scenario in the country but also fosters talents flocking in droves offering options for selections.
- Now, with the amount of money getting pumped into the game and the sheer number of cricketers available to choose from, it is always expected that any team representing the country would emerge victorious often. Since pumping in money to spruce up the cricketing infrastructure to international standards is never in question, the talented cricketers emerging from the system have every available avenue to hone their skill sets on expected lines. Mind you, young cricketers in India will become millionaires just by getting a contract from one of the many cash-rich and willing franchisees prepared to dole out unheard-of money. However, why Team India always tends to falter to deceive when it comes to delivering on a big stage is a big question.
PC: AP
- Of late, Team India has badly fared in ICC events repeatedly failing to cross the last hurdle to emerge victorious. Remember, Team India has not won any multilateral tournaments ever since the ICC World Cup in 2011. Do we lack the killer punch or something extra that is quintessential for the success of other cricket-playing nations like Australia and England? The question remains unanswered despite billions of cricket-crazy fans fervently urging our team to go the distance. Yes, we have showcased our prowess in several bilateral cricket series over the years. But somehow found wanting in the multilateral tournaments. Indeed, this glaring anomaly could be corrected if Team India crosses the finishing line in the ensuing ICC World Cup scheduled in India this year.
