India is a diverse nation with a population that plays and watches different sports. Some years back, Cricket held the monopoly of the most played sport in the country as well as the game that attracted huge viewership.

However, that has changed, more sports are coming up. If you ask anyone, what is the most popular sport today; perhaps Cricket will not resonate with everyone. This just shows how the sports sphere has changed today. In this article, we explore the top secrets behind the popularity of various sports in India. We will also attempt to answer the question of which game is most played in Bollywood country.

Cricket

India is one of the cricket powerhouses. It ranks as one of the most played sports in the country. Even in terms of viewership, Indians rank highly. It is estimated that hundreds of millions of cricket fans watch the national team play with major teams such as England and New Zealand.

Analysts suggest that a large interest in the sport emanates from the big names that the country has produced. Cricket players are some of the most influential individuals in the country. Young people look up to them and that is why most end up playing cricket in comparison with other sports. To these youngsters, big names such as Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, and Virat Kohli are role models.

The team’s great performance in major tournaments has also been touted as the other secret behind the popularity of the game. Cricket is not just popular among players and fans, it also has a huge following among betting enthusiasts. With several sites offering cricket odds, bettors are normally spoilt for a choice.

Kabaddi

Cricket has dominated the Indian sports scene for so long. Although it still tops the list of most loved sports, Kabaddi is fast catching up. This contact game originated right here. It has grown from a traditional pastime activity played in the villages to an international sport. It has now spread to different parts of the world, with several countries sending their teams to international championships including the Olympics.

India has performed pretty well in major international tournaments; it has dominated the Asian games where it has won the most number of gold medals. The local league attracts a huge number of fans and betting enthusiasts. What is the secret behind the popularity of this game? Sports analysts from best Indian sites by MightyTips have given the following reasons:

• Its traditional roots
• The fact that it is a favorite pastime activity both in urban and rural areas
• Support from the government, private sector as well as the general public.

Motorsport

Today’s youth is changing the landscape of sports viewership. One of the sports that has gained popularity in the recent past is motorsports. Statistics show that motorsports is a popular form amongst the Indian youth. Analysts observe that the sport has grown in the last three decades. Popular motorsport drivers such as Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok are almost reaching the level of great cricket players in terms of the influence they have on the youth.

Tennis

A visit to the states of West Bengal, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra will not be complete until you play or watch one of the famous sports in India, tennis. There are talented players in different spheres of the game.

We have Indians who have carved their names on the top players list in the world. Lawn tennis stars like Sania Mirza among others are a huge influence in the states where the sport is popular. The game may not attract the numbers that sports such as cricket and Kabaddi get in terms of spectators but it is fast catching up.

Boxing

Some years back this was one of the least played and watched games, but in the recent past, it has been gradually gaining attention. One of the factors that has led to the growing popularity of the sport is the international victories that have been recorded in the recent past. Indian boxer, Vijiender Singh is mentioned as one of the martial arts players who has brought the game into the limelight.

Bringing a bronze home in 2008 during the Beijing Olympics, Vijiender went down in history as one of the Indian boxers to achieve this fete. Mary Kom also went down in history to become the first woman to win a medal, pushing the sport’s popularity to great heights. Just like Tennis, Boxing may not attract huge viewership but it is a sport to watch in the future. There is a huge talent pool and with the promotion of the sports, it might rival the big games in terms of players, fans, and sponsorship deals.

Other popular games include football, hockey, wrestling, badminton, and athletics. The number of players as well as fans has been growing steadily. Viewership statistics indicate that football is gaining prominence and if the trend continues it may grab a position in the top five popular games in India.

India is an undeniable force in the field of sports. Crickets and Kabaddi have carved a dominant niche in the nation’s collective heart. At the same time, a lot of other sports race to claim their share of the limelight. Embraced by a web of unwavering support from various entities, India’s major sports ascend to unparalleled popularity, standing poised to impart invaluable lessons to other nations seeking to unravel their own sporting secrets.