Overview
- Governing body
- BCCI
- Origin
- 16th century England
- Olympic discipline
- Yes
- Category
- Team
- Total players listed
- …
Cricket is one of India's most-followed disciplines. The BCCI oversees national federation activity, talent identification and Olympic qualification pathways. Major support flows in through TOPS and Khelo India for athletes who clear federation benchmarks.
Cricket is a recognised Olympic discipline, which shapes the entire high-performance pipeline in India. Athletes who break into the senior national camp become eligible for the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which funds international training stints, foreign coaches, sports science support, equipment and travel for ranking events. Below the senior tier, the Khelo India Youth Games, University Games and Winter Games act as the country's largest scouting net, feeding talent into the Khelo India Talent Development scheme where annual stipends, boarding and dedicated coaching are provided at SAI National Centres of Excellence and accredited academies. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports tracks every selected athlete's progress against published benchmarks, and underperformance can mean a drop from the scheme — the pathway is rigorous by design.
As a team sport, Cricket in India is built around a club, district and state structure that culminates in national-level inter-state competition. State associations affiliated to the BCCI run age-group leagues from under-14 upwards, with the strongest pools historically coming from states with established grassroots infrastructure. Franchise leagues — where they exist — sit on top of this pyramid and have transformed athlete earnings, broadcast visibility and the professionalisation of coaching and support staff. School and college tournaments under SGFI and AIU remain the primary discovery route for players who do not come through a private academy.
At the grassroots, the route into Cricket typically starts at school under the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), at the inter-university level under the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), or through a private academy registered with the state association. The Khelo India Youth Games and Khelo India University Games are the largest single discovery platforms — athletes who reach the podium at these events become eligible for the Khelo India Talent Development scheme, which funds boarding, coaching, kit, education and a monthly stipend at accredited centres. State sports awards and central government jobs under the sports quota remain a powerful incentive for athletes from smaller towns.
Cricket originated in 16th century England, and in India it has developed a distinct character shaped by the country's geography, demographics and sporting culture. Whether you want to compete, coach, sponsor, write about or simply follow Cricket, the practical starting point is the same: connect with your state association under the BCCI, identify the nearest SAI centre or accredited academy, and track the Khelo India and federation calendars for the events that decide selection at every level. India's most-followed sport; T20 cricket returns to the Olympics at LA28.
History
How cricket evolved globally and took root in India.
Cricket traces its modern origins to 16th century England. Codified rules, standard equipment and international competition took shape as the sport spread beyond its birthplace, and BCCI is the body that carried it into organised Indian competition.
In India, cricket grew through princely-state patronage, defence-service teams, universities and state associations. Post-independence, the discipline was formalised under BCCI, national championships were instituted, and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) later brought it into the centralised high-performance system with dedicated centres, coaching cadres and sports-science support.
Cricket being on the Olympic programme reshaped its Indian pathway: Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) selection, Khelo India Talent Development stipends and international training stints became the norm for the country's leading athletes.
Indian Achievements
Verified Olympic, World, Asian and Commonwealth milestones for India in cricket.
- ICC Cricket World Cup winners: 1983 (Kapil Dev's XI) and 2011 (MS Dhoni's XI).
- ICC T20 World Cup winners: 2007 (MS Dhoni) and 2024 (Rohit Sharma).
- ICC Champions Trophy winners: 2002 (shared with Sri Lanka), 2013 (MS Dhoni) and 2025 (Rohit Sharma).
- ICC Women's T20 Asia Cup: 8 titles; Asian Games 2022 gold in women's cricket.
- ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup winners: 5 titles (2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022).
- Sachin Tendulkar — only player with 100 international centuries; highest run-scorer in international cricket.
Famous Indian Players
Landmark cricket names from India, past and present.
- Sachin Tendulkar100 international hundreds; Bharat Ratna (2014).
- Kapil DevCaptain of India's first World Cup win, 1983.
- MS DhoniOnly captain to win all three ICC white-ball trophies.
- Virat KohliT20 World Cup 2024 winner; ICC ODI Player of the Decade.
- Rohit SharmaOnly batter with three ODI double-hundreds; T20 & Champions Trophy-winning captain.
- Jasprit BumrahICC Test Bowler of the Year 2024; No. 1 across formats.
- Smriti MandhanaICC Women's Cricketer of the Year (2018, 2021).
- Harmanpreet KaurIndia women's captain; Asian Games 2022 gold.
Notable Coaches
Head coaches and mentors behind India's leading cricket results.
- Gautam GambhirCurrent India men's head coach (from 2024).
- Rahul DravidT20 World Cup 2024-winning head coach; NCA head.
- Amol MuzumdarIndia women's senior team head coach.
- V. V. S. LaxmanHead of the Centre of Excellence (formerly NCA), Bengaluru.
- Ravi ShastriFormer India head coach (2017–2021); WTC finalist 2021.
Scholarships & Funding
Central, state and private scholarships available for cricket athletes in India.
- BCCI Central Contracts
Grade A+ / A / B / C retainer contracts for India men's and women's players, plus match fees (Test ₹15 lakh, ODI ₹6 lakh, T20I ₹3 lakh).
- BCCI Pension Scheme
Monthly pension for former India internationals and first-class cricketers, tiered by matches played.
- State Association scholarships
State cricket associations (MCA, DDCA, KSCA etc.) run age-group scholarships and stipends.
- Khelo India Talent Development Scheme (KISCE)
Monthly stipend (₹10,000 for Khelo India athletes), boarding, coaching and kit at accredited centres for identified cricket talent (Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports).
- Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
Central government scheme covering training, foreign exposure, equipment and out-of-pocket allowance (up to ₹50,000/month) for medal-prospect cricket athletes; administered by the Mission Olympic Cell.
Indian Players
Loading…- Ajinkya RahaneMaharashtra
Stand-in Test captain who led India to the famous 2021 Gabba victory.
- Anil KumbleKarnatakaBowler
India's all-time leading Test wicket-taker; only second bowler with all 10 in a Test innings.
- Arshdeep SinghPunjab
India's leading T20I wicket-taker; left-arm death-overs specialist.
- Axar PatelGujaratAll-rounder
Left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder and T20 World Cup 2024 winner.
- Cheteshwar PujaraGujarat
Test specialist whose epic 2020-21 Australia tour anchored India's historic series win.
- Deepti SharmaUttar PradeshAll-rounder
World-class all-rounder; ICC No. 1 ODI bowler and 2025 Women's World Cup MVP.
- Gautam GambhirDelhi
Top-scorer in both ICC white-ball World Cup finals India won; current India head coach.
- Harbhajan SinghPunjab
Off-spin great with 700+ international wickets; first Indian to take a Test hat-trick.
- Hardik PandyaGujaratAll-rounder
Power-hitting all-rounder, T20 World Cup 2024 winner, and former India T20I vice-captain who has led the side in the shortest format.
- Harmanpreet KaurPunjabBatter
India women's captain who led the team to their maiden ICC Women's ODI World Cup title in 2025, defeating South Africa in the final — India's first global trophy in women's cricket. An aggressive middle-order batter across formats.
- Ishan KishanJharkhand
Fastest ODI double-hundred (126 balls) vs Bangladesh.
- Ishant SharmaDelhiBowler
Long-serving pacer; second Indian quick to take 300 Test wickets.
- Jasprit BumrahGujaratBowler
World's premier fast bowler across all formats; ICC No. 1 Test bowler.
- Jhulan GoswamiWest Bengal
Highest wicket-taker in women's international cricket and former ICC Cricketer of the Year.
- K. L. RahulKarnatakaWicketkeeper
Versatile top-order batter and wicketkeeper across all three formats.
- Kapil DevHaryanaAll-rounder
Captain of India's first World Cup-winning side in 1983; all-time great all-rounder.
- Kuldeep YadavUttar PradeshBowler
India's premier left-arm wrist spinner with ODI and Test hat-tricks.
- Mahendra Singh DhoniJharkhand
Only captain to win all three ICC white-ball trophies; CSK talisman.
- Mithali RajRajasthan
Highest run-scorer in women's international cricket; long-time India captain.
- Mohammed ShamiUttar PradeshBowler
Veteran India seamer and highest wicket-taker at the 2023 ODI World Cup. Has not featured for India since the March 2025 Champions Trophy final owing to fitness concerns, and is currently working his way back through domestic cricket while selectors have preferred younger pacers.
- Mohammed SirajTelanganaBowler
Hyderabad seamer who rose to ICC No. 1 ODI bowler; Asia Cup 2023 hero.
- Pooja VastrakarMadhya PradeshAll-rounder
Pace-bowling all-rounder; key to India's recent ICC trophy runs.
- Radha YadavGujaratBowler
Left-arm spinner and India's death-overs T20I specialist.
- Rahul DravidKarnataka
'The Wall' — India's most prolific Test No. 3 and 2024 T20 World Cup-winning head coach.
- Ravichandran AshwinTamil Nadu
Second-highest Test wicket-taker for India and most Player-of-the-Series awards in Tests.
- Ravindra JadejaGujaratAll-rounder
World-class all-rounder; ICC No. 1 Test all-rounder across multiple years.
- Renuka Singh ThakurHimachal PradeshBowler
India's leading new-ball pacer in women's cricket and part of the 2025 ICC Women's ODI World Cup-winning squad; ICC Emerging Cricketer 2022.
- Richa GhoshWest BengalWicketkeeper
India's first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in white-ball cricket and explosive lower-order finisher; scored an unbeaten 34 to close out the 2025 ICC Women's ODI World Cup final against South Africa.
- Rinku SinghUttar PradeshBatter
KKR finisher famous for five sixes in an over; T20I middle-order anchor.
- Rishabh PantUttarakhandWicketkeeper
Aggressive wicketkeeper-batter known for match-defining innings.
- Rohit SharmaMaharashtraBatter
Veteran opener and active ODI player; former India captain who led the T20 World Cup 2024 and ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title wins.
- Sachin TendulkarMaharashtra
Highest run-scorer in international cricket history; only player with 100 international hundreds.
- Shafali VermaHaryanaBatter
Power-hitting opener who returned to the India ODI side as a late 2025 World Cup call-up in place of an injured Pratika Rawal, and produced a Player-of-the-Match 87 (plus two wickets) in the final to help India lift their maiden ICC Women's ODI World Cup.
- Shreyas IyerMaharashtraBatter
Current India T20I captain and dependable middle-order batter; led Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL 2024 title.
- Shubman GillPunjabBatter
India captain in ODIs and Tests; next-generation top-order batter.
- Smriti MandhanaMaharashtraBatter
India's premier women's opener, vice-captain of the 2025 ICC Women's ODI World Cup-winning side, and RCB WPL-winning captain.
- Sourav GangulyWest Bengal
Transformational India captain who built the modern era; former BCCI President.
- Suryakumar YadavMaharashtraBatter
World's No. 1 T20I batter for two consecutive years; former India T20I captain before Shreyas Iyer took over the role.
- Tilak VarmaTelanganaBatter
Left-handed top-order batter and Mumbai Indians mainstay.
- V. V. S. LaxmanTelangana
Test specialist behind the legendary 281 at Eden Gardens; current NCA head.
- Virat KohliDelhi
Modern great; former India captain across formats.
- Virender SehwagDelhi
Only Indian with two Test triple-hundreds; redefined Test opening.
- Yashasvi JaiswalUttar PradeshBatter
Mumbai opener with two Test double-hundreds inside a year; T20 World Cup winner.
- Yuvraj SinghPunjab
Player of the Tournament at the 2011 World Cup; six sixes in an over at the 2007 World T20.
- Zaheer KhanMaharashtraBowler
Premier left-arm seamer of his generation and 2011 World Cup leading wicket-taker.
Rules
Two teams of 11. The batting side scores runs; the bowling side tries to dismiss batters (bowled, caught, LBW, run out, stumped) or restrict scoring. In limited-overs cricket, each side bats a fixed number of overs (typically 20 for T20, 50 for ODI); in Test cricket, sides bat in two innings each over up to five days. The side with more runs when the match ends wins.
Authoritative rulebook: BCCI. Age-group and school-level variations are published by SGFI and the state associations each season.
Positions
Key roles, events or positions inside a cricket squad or competition.
- Attackers / forwardsPrimary scorers who operate closest to the opposition goal or scoring zone.
- Midfielders / all-roundersLink play between defence and attack; usually the highest work-rate positions.
- DefendersDeny the opposition space and possession in the defensive third.
- Goalkeeper / last lineSpecialist stopper with distinct kit and rules; the final line of defence.
- Captain & vice-captainOn-field leadership, decision-making and communication with match officials.
Equipment
Standard kit and infrastructure required to train and compete in cricket at a federation-recognised event.
- Cricket bat (willow)
- Cricket ball (leather, seamed)
- Stumps and bails (3 stumps per end)
- Protective pads and gloves for batters
- Helmet
Governing body
BCCI is the recognised national body for Cricket in India. It sets the domestic calendar, selection norms, coaching curriculum and anti-doping compliance, and is affiliated to the international federation for cricket. State associations under BCCI run age-group competition and feed the national talent pipeline.
- Origin
- 16th century England
- Olympic
- Yes
- Category
- Team
Major Indian Events
Domestic championships, Khelo India events, National Games and franchise leagues that shape the cricket calendar in India.
- Ranji Trophy
Premier domestic first-class competition (since 1934), contested by 38 state teams.
- Vijay Hazare Trophy
Domestic List-A 50-over championship.
- Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Domestic T20 championship — the main T20 selection pool.
- Duleep Trophy
Zonal first-class tournament; a selection benchmark for Test cricket.
- Irani Cup
Match between the Ranji champions and Rest of India.
- Indian Premier League (IPL)
World's richest T20 league; 10 franchises since 2022.
- Women's Premier League (WPL)
BCCI's franchise T20 league for women, launched 2023.
- Senior Women's One Day / T20 Trophy
BCCI's premier domestic women's white-ball competitions.
International Events
Continental and world-level competitions where India competes in cricket.
- ICC Men's Cricket World Cup
Quadrennial 50-over world championship.
- ICC Men's T20 World Cup
T20 world championship — every two years.
- ICC Champions Trophy
Top-8 ODI tournament revived in 2025.
- ICC World Test Championship
Two-year cycle culminating in a Test final at Lord's / The Oval.
- ICC Women's Cricket World Cup
50-over women's world championship.
- ICC Women's T20 World Cup
T20 world championship for women.
- Asia Cup (Men's & Women's)
ACC continental championship in ODI and T20 formats.
Leagues
Franchise and professional leagues catalogued for cricket. Full season data, champions and schedule filters are available in the sidebar.
- Domestic · Since 2008Indian Premier League
World's richest T20 league and India's premier sporting franchise property.
- Domestic · Since 2023Women's Premier League
BCCI's franchise T20 league that has transformed Indian women's cricket commercially and competitively.
- Domestic · Since 1934Ranji Trophy
India's premier domestic first-class competition and the historical proving ground for every Test cricketer.
- Domestic · Since 2002Vijay Hazare Trophy
India's premier domestic 50-over tournament between state and Plate Group sides.
- Domestic · Since 2006Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
BCCI's premier domestic T20 competition and a major IPL talent feeder.
- International · Since 1975ICC Cricket World Cup
Quadrennial 50-over world championship — the sport's biggest single trophy.
- International · Since 2007ICC Men's T20 World Cup
Biennial global T20 championship; India won the most recent edition in the West Indies and USA.
- International · Since 1998ICC Champions Trophy
Compact eight-team ODI tournament for the top sides in the world.
International Players
Globally recognised cricket athletes to know outside India.
- AustraliaMost ICC Men's ODI World Cup titles (6): 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015, 2023.
- West IndiesFirst two ODI World Cups (1975, 1979) and back-to-back T20 World Cups (2012, 2016).
- EnglandMen's ODI World Cup 2019 and Men's T20 World Cup 2010, 2022.
- Australia WomenMost-decorated team in women's international cricket — 7 ODI and 6 T20 World Cups.
Records
Where to find India's official cricket record book.
- Olympic medalsTracked
Individual and team Olympic medals for India in cricket are logged on the official IOC and IOA archives.
- Asian Games medalsTracked
India's Asian Games results in cricket are compiled by the Indian Olympic Association and the BCCI.
- Commonwealth medalsTracked
Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championship medals in cricket are maintained by the BCCI.
- World Championship medalsTracked
Senior, junior and youth World Championship medal records are held by the international federation for cricket and mirrored by BCCI.
- National record holdersFederation register
BCCI publishes the current senior, junior and sub-junior national records and updates them after every ratified event.
Career Options
Ways to build a career in cricket — on the field, on the sidelines and behind the scenes.
- Professional cricketer — IPL/WPL, Ranji, state and India contracts
- BCCI-certified coach (Level 1/2/3) via the National Cricket Academy
- BCCI umpire / match referee (Level 1 → Elite Panel)
- Sports physiotherapist, S&C coach, video analyst, nutritionist with franchises
- Cricket broadcaster, commentator, journalist, statistician
- Sports quota jobs (Railways, Indian Oil, Air India, ONGC) for state and Ranji players
Related academies
30 listed- MRF Pace FoundationEliteChennai, Tamil Nadu · Since 1987
Storied pace bowling academy that has trained Indian and international quicks.
- N. G. Ranga Sports AcademyStateVisakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh · Since 1996
Coastal Andhra's largest multi-sport academy.
- MCA Cricket AcademyEliteMumbai, Maharashtra · Since 1994
Mumbai Cricket Association's BKC academy — Ranji and India pipeline.
- BCCI National Cricket AcademyEliteBengaluru, Karnataka · Since 2000
BCCI's centralised academy for India seniors, juniors, women and rehab.
- Vijay Merchant Cricket AcademyStateMumbai, Maharashtra · Since 1985
Historic Mumbai academy in the Shivaji Park cricketing belt.
- KSCA Cricket AcademyStateBengaluru, Karnataka · Since 1997
Karnataka State Cricket Association's pathway from age-group to Ranji.
- PCA Cricket AcademyStateMohali, Punjab · Since 1996
Punjab Cricket Association academy at the IS Bindra Stadium.
- RCA Cricket AcademyStateJaipur, Rajasthan · Since 1999
Rajasthan's senior pipeline academy at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
- Sonnet Cricket Club AcademyNationalNew Delhi, Delhi · Since 1969
Storied Delhi club academy — alumni include Sehwag, Kohli and Gambhir.
- Motilal Nehru School of SportsNationalSonipat, Haryana · Since 1973
Haryana's residential sports school — a feeder for the state's medal factory.
- ACA Cricket AcademyStateVisakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh · Since 2000
Andhra Cricket Association's residential pathway in Vizag.
- Indian Railways Sports Promotion BoardEliteNew Delhi, Delhi · Since 1928
Departmental sports body that fields India's most successful multi-sport contingents.
Government Schemes
…Central and state schemes that fund training, stipends and awards for cricket athletes and academies.
Loading schemes…
All government schemes →FAQs
Common questions about cricket in India.
Who governs cricket in India?▾
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), affiliated to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Is cricket an Olympic sport?▾
Cricket returns to the Olympic programme at Los Angeles 2028 in the T20 format for both men and women.
What is the highest-paid cricket league in India?▾
The Indian Premier League (IPL) — with team salary caps above ₹100 crore per franchise from 2024 onwards.
How do I represent India in cricket?▾
Play age-group cricket for your state → Ranji Trophy / Vijay Hazare → India A → India selection through the BCCI selection committee.
Cricket in every state & UT
Dedicated pages for Cricket in each Indian state and Union Territory — academies, schemes, athletes and how to start.
- Cricket in Andhra Pradesh
- Cricket in Arunachal Pradesh
- Cricket in Assam
- Cricket in Bihar
- Cricket in Chhattisgarh
- Cricket in Goa
- Cricket in Gujarat
- Cricket in Haryana
- Cricket in Himachal Pradesh
- Cricket in Jharkhand
- Cricket in Karnataka
- Cricket in Kerala
- Cricket in Madhya Pradesh
- Cricket in Maharashtra
- Cricket in Manipur
- Cricket in Meghalaya
- Cricket in Mizoram
- Cricket in Nagaland
- Cricket in Odisha
- Cricket in Punjab
- Cricket in Rajasthan
- Cricket in Sikkim
- Cricket in Tamil Nadu
- Cricket in Telangana
- Cricket in Tripura
- Cricket in Uttar Pradesh
- Cricket in Uttarakhand
- Cricket in West Bengal
- Cricket in Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Cricket in Chandigarh
- Cricket in Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
- Cricket in Delhi
- Cricket in Jammu & Kashmir
- Cricket in Ladakh
- Cricket in Lakshadweep
- Cricket in Puducherry