Cricket was introduced to the Indian subcontinent in the early 18th century by the British East India Company.  It started as an elite sport, but it was gradually adopted by communities across all social strata. The popularity of the game of cricket can be judged by the fact that it is played in a wide variety of non-traditional venues, including streets, parks, and beaches, even on stairs. According to Ashis Nandy, it is ‘an Indian game accidentally discovered by the English’.

When I was growing up, it was regarded as a ‘Gentleman’s Sport’. There were always intense rivalries between cricket-playing nations, such as England and Australia, and the mother of all rivalries, India and Pakistan. It only helped draw millions of viewers from all around the world, especially people from both countries. Television ratings skyrocketed during these games, it still does.

Gully cricket on the stairs at Ganga ghat, Banaras.

Children enjoying cricket in Ladakh. It could probably be the highest cricket-playing ground in the world.

Cricket in Moidan, Kolkata.

The game of cricket has recently turned into a spectacle like the Wagah Border Flag ceremony. It is a powerful reminder of how sports can be manipulated for political purposes. The perils of allowing identity politics to dominate the games we cherish are evident in the incidents of the past few days.

Photos and Text by Prerna Jain.