Cricket in Gujarat

Verified profileAchievements, tournaments, coaches and scholarships on this page are compiled from federation and government sources (BCCI, ICC, Government of India — Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports).

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 Tendulkar
100 international hundreds; Bharat Ratna (2014).
Kapil Dev
Captain of India's first World Cup win, 1983.
MS Dhoni
Only captain to win all three ICC white-ball trophies.
Virat Kohli
T20 World Cup 2024 winner; ICC ODI Player of the Decade.
Rohit Sharma
Only batter with three ODI double-hundreds; T20 & Champions Trophy-winning captain.
Jasprit Bumrah
ICC Test Bowler of the Year 2024; No. 1 across formats.
Smriti Mandhana
ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year (2018, 2021).
Harmanpreet Kaur
India women's captain; Asian Games 2022 gold.

Notable Coaches

Head coaches and mentors behind India's leading cricket results.

Gautam Gambhir
Current India men's head coach (from 2024).
Rahul Dravid
T20 World Cup 2024-winning head coach; NCA head.
Amol Muzumdar
India women's senior team head coach.
V. V. S. Laxman
Head of the Centre of Excellence (formerly NCA), Bengaluru.
Ravi Shastri
Former India head coach (2017–2021); WTC finalist 2021.

All coaches directory →

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.

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Indian Players

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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 / forwards
Primary scorers who operate closest to the opposition goal or scoring zone.
Midfielders / all-rounders
Link play between defence and attack; usually the highest work-rate positions.
Defenders
Deny the opposition space and possession in the defensive third.
Goalkeeper / last line
Specialist stopper with distinct kit and rules; the final line of defence.
Captain & vice-captain
On-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

National federation

BCCI

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

All federations →

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 2008
Indian Premier League
World's richest T20 league and India's premier sporting franchise property.
Domestic · Since 2023
Women's Premier League
BCCI's franchise T20 league that has transformed Indian women's cricket commercially and competitively.
Domestic · Since 1934
Ranji Trophy
India's premier domestic first-class competition and the historical proving ground for every Test cricketer.
Domestic · Since 2002
Vijay Hazare Trophy
India's premier domestic 50-over tournament between state and Plate Group sides.
Domestic · Since 2006
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
BCCI's premier domestic T20 competition and a major IPL talent feeder.
International · Since 1975
ICC Cricket World Cup
Quadrennial 50-over world championship — the sport's biggest single trophy.
International · Since 2007
ICC Men's T20 World Cup
Biennial global T20 championship; India won the most recent edition in the West Indies and USA.
International · Since 1998
ICC Champions Trophy
Compact eight-team ODI tournament for the top sides in the world.

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International Players

Globally recognised cricket athletes to know outside India.

Australia
Most ICC Men's ODI World Cup titles (6): 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015, 2023.
West Indies
First two ODI World Cups (1975, 1979) and back-to-back T20 World Cups (2012, 2016).
England
Men's ODI World Cup 2019 and Men's T20 World Cup 2010, 2022.
Australia Women
Most-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

Explore sports careers →Coaches directory →

Related academies

30 listed

MRF Pace FoundationElite
Chennai, Tamil Nadu · Since 1987
Storied pace bowling academy that has trained Indian and international quicks.
N. G. Ranga Sports AcademyState
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh · Since 1996
Coastal Andhra's largest multi-sport academy.
MCA Cricket AcademyElite
Mumbai, Maharashtra · Since 1994
Mumbai Cricket Association's BKC academy — Ranji and India pipeline.
BCCI National Cricket AcademyElite
Bengaluru, Karnataka · Since 2000
BCCI's centralised academy for India seniors, juniors, women and rehab.
Vijay Merchant Cricket AcademyState
Mumbai, Maharashtra · Since 1985
Historic Mumbai academy in the Shivaji Park cricketing belt.
KSCA Cricket AcademyState
Bengaluru, Karnataka · Since 1997
Karnataka State Cricket Association's pathway from age-group to Ranji.
PCA Cricket AcademyState
Mohali, Punjab · Since 1996
Punjab Cricket Association academy at the IS Bindra Stadium.
RCA Cricket AcademyState
Jaipur, Rajasthan · Since 1999
Rajasthan's senior pipeline academy at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
Sonnet Cricket Club AcademyNational
New Delhi, Delhi · Since 1969
Storied Delhi club academy — alumni include Sehwag, Kohli and Gambhir.
Motilal Nehru School of SportsNational
Sonipat, Haryana · Since 1973
Haryana's residential sports school — a feeder for the state's medal factory.
ACA Cricket AcademyState
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh · Since 2000
Andhra Cricket Association's residential pathway in Vizag.
Indian Railways Sports Promotion BoardElite
New Delhi, Delhi · Since 1928
Departmental sports body that fields India's most successful multi-sport contingents.

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Government Schemes

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Central and state schemes that fund training, stipends and awards for cricket athletes and academies.

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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