India’s five most popular sports are cricket, football, badminton, hockey, and kabaddi. Cricket dominates with massive fan support, while the others enjoy regional popularity and growing national interest.
5. Field hockey (HIL)
Field hockey, often regarded as India’s national game, has long been one of the country’s most popular sports.
4. Badminton (PBL)
Badminton is currently most popular sport in India, trailing only cricket. Its TV viewership has seen significant growth in recent years.
India has also made a mark on the international stage, with players like Saina Nehwal, Srikanth Kidambi, and Pusarla Venkata Sindhu achieving top world rankings. The Premier Badminton League (PBL), the country’s premier badminton competition, has been drawing an increasing audience. In 2019, PBL’s TV viewership soared to a record 155 million, up from 42 million the previous year.
3. Football (ISL and I-League)
Football, also known as soccer, was introduced to India during the British colonial era. Unlike cricket, where India has produced some of the world’s best players and teams, the nation has yet to achieve similar success in football.
India has never competed in the FIFA World Cup, though it was invited in 1950 when other Asian teams withdrew. According to legend, India declined because players weren’t allowed to compete barefoot. Despite the absence of major international achievements, football remains one of India’s most popular sports, both for spectators and participants.
The Indian Super League (ISL) and I-League are the top-tier competitions in the country. Founded in 2013, the ISL follows an expansion model without promotion or relegation, similar to Major League Soccer in the U.S.
2. Kabaddi (PKL)
Kabaddi, a sport native to the Indian subcontinent, has been a staple of Indian culture for centuries. Its popularity surged further with the launch of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) in 2014, which quickly became a fan favorite. The inaugural season drew an impressive 435 million TV viewers, second only to the Indian Premier League’s 552 million. Since then, Kabaddi has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sports in India, with viewership increasing by nearly 100 million between 2016 and 2017. Remarkably, the PKL has even surpassed the last football World Cup in Indian viewership.
The league’s success has driven up investments, sponsorship deals, and player salaries. Additionally, India’s beloved indigenous sport is starting to gain a following beyond its borders.
1. Cricket (IPL)
Cricket is undeniably the most cherished sport in India, deeply embedded in the nation’s culture and history. Introduced during British rule, it has since become an integral part of India’s traditions.
The Indian Premier League (IPL), established in 2008, is the world’s most-watched professional Twenty20 cricket league. According to Duff & Phelps, the IPL had a brand value of $6.7 billion in 2019. Widely followed across the country, the league significantly boosts India’s economy. In 2015, the BCCI reported that the IPL season contributed ₹11.5 billion (US$160 million) to India’s GDP.
India’s national cricket team has secured major titles, including the 1983 and 2011 Cricket World Cups, the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. Matches against arch-rival Pakistan consistently rank among the most-watched events on Indian television.