Well, we’re sorry to disappoint you, but this is not always the case. The government’s focus has increasingly shifted towards the holistic development of sports, with an emphasis on identifying and nurturing young talent. Programs like Khelo India have been launched to spot promising athletes across various sports disciplines. This initiative is helping discover new sports stars, expanding India’s sporting horizons beyond traditional favorites like cricket and hockey. As a result, sports like badminton, wrestling, boxing, and athletics have gained more attention, showing a broader representation of India’s growing sports culture. Indians refer to hockey as their national sport due to its enormous popularity.

It was a popular pastime among the nobility and aristocracy, often played during festive occasions and royal gatherings. Sunil Gavaskar took over as men’s Test and ODI captain in 1978–79, leading India in 47 Test matches and 37 ODIs, winning nine Tests and 14 ODIs. He was succeeded by Kapil Dev in the 1980s, who captained for 34 Test matches, including four victories. Kapil Dev led India to victory in 39 of his 74 ODIs in charge, including the 1983 Cricket World Cup. Kapil Dev also captained India’s 2–0 Test series victory in England in 1986. The captaincy shuffled between Dev and Gavaskar, with Gavaskar captaining India to triumph in the inaugral 1984 Asia Cup and 1985 World Championship of Cricket.

Actually, there is no officially recognized national sport in the country. National sports promote physical activity and underscore the significance and value of sports to the population. Having a unique national sport can impact how citizens perceive and engage in it. As India continues to grow economically and culturally, the landscape of sports is also evolving. The future may see a shift in what is considered the national sport, with cricket, kabaddi, and even football making strong cases. Another sport, cricket, is also believed by some to be India’s national game.

#5 Cricket and the Olympics

Cricket only gained popularity in India after hockey had already established itself. In 1983, our country’s team won its first World Cup, bringing this sport to prominence. Cricket has become a household name due to its well-known players and current success rates. Kabaddi is another sport in which India has performed find out this here extraordinarily. Field hockey has been a part of India’s sporting culture since the British introduced it in the late 19th century.

Key Milestones in Indian Hockey

The government in India acknowledges the importance of all sports and does not want to set a hierarchy of preference. According to the GOI, there is no game is declared as the national sport of India. Aggressive style Not natural to me, but something I really wanted to do. When you are doing something different, you have to have the backing of the team and management. I have played all these years in a different style, and now we are getting the results with this. We have to understand the nature of the surfaces and I was very clear about how I wanted to execute the first five-six overs.

• He picks the right shot to play in the pressure situation which allows the rest of the batters to play freely.
• India does not have an official national game, despite hockey’s significant legacy and continued importance in the country’s sporting culture.
• Even kabaddi is also often believed to be the national game of India.
• He has so far scored 12 goals from 23 matches this season to become its highest Indian goal-scorer, and it is this performance graph that has driven Márquez to get in touch with Chhetri.

There have been several calls to make hockey India’s national sport. Even kabaddi is also often believed to be the national game of India. This is not strange as the performance of the hockey team remains unrivaled. Whether or not India ever declares an official national game, the spirit of sportsmanship and the pursuit of excellence in various sports will continue to define the nation’s athletic identity. As India prepares to host and compete in more international events, the world will witness the emergence of new sports icons who will carry forward the legacy of champions like Major Dhyan Chand.