Millions of rupees are spent, countless hours of work are lost and other sports and sportspersons are often ignored all for cricket and cricketers. But is this craze for cricket in India really justified?

To begin with, cricket is not originally an Indian game. It was brought to India by the British and left behind as a legacy. Although the British have long gone, cricket continues to dominate in many former colonies, India being the biggest example. Once upon a time, it was considered a game of the rich and played mostly under the patronage of Rajas and Nawabs.

Today, cricket has become a passion for almost every Indian, followed with extraordinary interest. With television, live streaming and social media, every big match reaches millions instantly. Players are celebrated as heroes when they perform well and criticized harshly when they fail. In fact, top cricketers in India are treated like celebrities, sometimes even more popular than film stars. They earn huge incomes not only from the game but also through endorsements, advertisements and brand promotions.

This obsession with cricket, however, has sidelined other sports. Athletes who bring global recognition to India in fields like athletics, wrestling, chess, or badminton do not receive the same level of attention or support. Champions like P.V. Sindhu, Neeraj Chopra and Vishwanathan Anand are respected, yet their fame and rewards are nowhere close to that of cricketers. Games like hockey, football and kabaddi often struggle to get half the popularity cricket enjoys.

Cricket too has seen its share of controversies, from match-fixing to betting scandals, which have left fans disappointed. Yet, for many, every cricket match feels like a festival or a drama unfolding live before them.

In truth, cricket is just a sport, no greater or lesser than any other. While it is good to enjoy the game, this extreme craze is not justified. Media hype and public obsession give it an importance that often comes at the cost of other sports. If India wishes to progress in sports as a whole, equal attention and encouragement must be given to all games.