The Aakhya Weekly #124 | Bowled Over by Diplomacy: India’s Cricketing Global Power Play
In Focus: The Growth of India's Cricket Diplomacy
by Swapneel Thakur
As we revel in the excitement of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, highlighted by stellar centuries from rising star Yashasvi Jaiswal and seasoned veteran Virat Kohli, the nation comes together in celebration, transcending languages, regions, and beliefs. Cricket has truly been India's unifying force since the iconic 1983 World Cup victory, with the advent of high-energy leagues like the IPL further bridging divides and bringing people from all walks of life closer.
At the same time, Indian foreign policy has actively embraced a distinctive approach, blending elements of soft power initiatives, including the influential strategy of cricket relations, to foster global connections. This innovative tool leverages India's passion for cricket and showcases its cultural prowess, strengthening ties and enhancing goodwill across nations.
Cricket Diplomacy - A Bilateral Initiative
Cricket diplomacy, as many experts term it, has emerged as a powerful component of India's foreign policy toolkit. The concept, first introduced by policymakers in 1987, saw a cricket match serve as a platform for fostering informal dialogue between India and Pakistan, reflecting the sport's unique ability to bridge divides and encourage meaningful connections. Today, cricket as a means of fostering international ties has expanded far beyond bilateral relations, encompassing established and emerging nations, as well as multilateral platforms, where India continues to assert its stature as a sporting powerhouse.
The Rise of Cricket in India
Before delving deeper, it is crucial to understand how and why India, once considered an underdog in the cricketing world compared to powerhouses like England, Australia, and the West Indies, reached this pinnacle in the last two decades. Unlike sports like Football or Athletics, Cricket requires considerable investment in specialised equipment, well-maintained pitches, and dedicated grounds, which are barely available for frequent use. In a country like India, where a large portion of the population falls within the lower-middle class, these factors can make it challenging to provide optimal conditions for the sport.
Cricket has been a popular sport in India since the British introduced it in the early 1700s, and its growth was further fueled by the establishment of indigenous cricket clubs and its adoption by various communities. However, it was with India's victories across the world along with the rise of icons like Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, and MS Dhoni—who came from modest backgrounds—that cricket became a field of aspiration for many young Indians. These achievements showed that it was possible to reach the highest levels of success in cricket in India. Furthermore, with the commercialisation of cricket through the Indian Premier League (IPL), which brought together world-class players and local heroes from every region of the country, cricket evolved into more than just a sport. It became a highly popular spectacle, drawing viewers from all walks of life and further solidifying its place as a national pastime.
Building on the national unity fostered by cricket and the recent surge in revenue within the sport, the government recognised the importance of making it more accessible. With the BCCI leading the charge in shaping the nation's cricketing ambitions, significant strides were made to expand the sport's reach and impact. A key effort at home was the establishment of infrastructure, such as the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, which serves as a hub for nurturing talent and training players. Additionally, the construction of iconic stadiums like the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the world's largest cricket venue, and the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, has elevated India’s status as a global cricketing powerhouse. Improved transportation networks, including state-of-the-art airports in cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, have further facilitated fan access to matches. Initiatives such as the development of local cricketing hubs in smaller towns, and the refurbishment of older stadiums have ensured that cricket remains an inclusive sport. These advancements, coupled with grassroots programs to identify and train young talent in rural areas, have collectively enhanced the overall cricketing experience and broadened the sport's appeal across the nation.
Cricket as a Tool of Engagement - India
Having built a strong cricketing foundation domestically, India has effectively leveraged its expertise to shape a meaningful international policy that underscores its role as a cricketing powerhouse. Guided by its ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family) and a commitment to inclusive development, India extended its support to Afghanistan’s cricket team, providing essential infrastructure and training facilities. Venues like the Greater Noida Sports Complex and Dehradun’s Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium became home grounds for Afghanistan, helping the team rise to prominence with notable victories in ODI and T20 World Cups.
Cricket has also become a key medium in strengthening ties with the Caribbean nations. The Indian Premier League (IPL) has revitalised cricket in the region, with West Indian players achieving immense popularity in India. These sporting ties have opened avenues for deeper collaboration in trade and tourism. The India-CARICOM Summit further emphasised cricket’s role as a cultural bridge, with Indian leaders highlighting the enduring ties between India and Caribbean nations. Meetings between West Indies cricket legends and dignitaries, such as the President of Guyana, reaffirmed these bonds, showcasing cricket as a tool for fostering goodwill.
India’s diaspora played a pivotal role in spreading cricket to emerging markets. The UAE’s successful hosting of the IPL during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 underscored the Gulf region’s potential as a cricketing hub and strengthened India-UAE relations. Similarly, in Saudi Arabia, India has actively supported the development of cricket, aligning with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to foster a sports culture and deepen bilateral ties.
In non-traditional markets like the United States, cricket has gained momentum, driven by the Indian-American diaspora and ICC-hosted matches. Meanwhile, in Africa, India has actively promoted cricket in Kenya, Zimbabwe, and others through training initiatives, financial assistance, and bilateral series. At the global level, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has cemented India’s leadership in cricket governance, driving innovations such as day-night test matches and advanced technologies, further enhancing the sport’s appeal worldwide.
The Way Ahead
As India continues to champion cricket as a diplomatic tool, the sport's power to transcend borders and build meaningful connections underscores its unique relevance in a world shaped by intricate alliances and shifting global dynamics. By strengthening ties with traditional cricketing nations and introducing the game to new markets, India’s cricket diplomacy exemplifies the transformative potential of soft power in forging lasting relationships in an increasingly multipolar world. Through its strategic promotion of cricket, India celebrates a beloved national passion and solidifies its position as a pioneer in leveraging cultural assets for impactful global engagement. The real challenge, however, lies in sparking genuine interest in cricket among nations where the sport has yet to find a foothold.
Top Stories of the Week
Mines Ministry to Undertake India’s First Offshore Mineral Auction
The Ministry of Mines is poised to initiate India’s first auction of offshore mineral blocks on November 28, 2024, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s mineral exploration efforts. This initiative, facilitated by amendments to the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, enables streamlined granting of production leases and composite licenses for 13 blocks in the Arabian and Andaman Seas. These blocks encompass critical minerals vital for infrastructure development and green energy technologies.
India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) holds vast potential for undersea mineral resources, including cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements, and polymetallic nodules, essential for high-demand technologies. With this, India seeks to diversify its mineral base, reduce import dependency, and strengthen supply chain resilience. By advancing undersea mineral exploration, India aims to reinforce its industrial capabilities, support the green energy transition, and position itself as a global leader in critical minerals.
Transforming Taxpayer Services with PAN 2.0
The PAN 2.0 project represents a transformative initiative to modernise and enhance the efficiency of the Permanent Account Number (PAN) system. This reform integrates PAN and Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number (TAN) services into a unified portal, simplifying user access and improving service delivery. Newly issued PAN cards will feature QR codes, enabling real-time data verification from the PAN database, thereby enhancing accuracy and reliability.
Adopting a fully online and paperless approach, the project facilitates user-friendly application processes, offering free services for allotment, updates, and corrections to ensure greater accessibility. Advanced cybersecurity measures, including a PAN Vault System, have been introduced to safeguard taxpayer information.
Existing PAN cards remain valid, with a phased transition to the upgraded format. PAN 2.0 underscores a commitment to eco-friendly operations, enhanced data security, and improved service delivery for taxpayers and government entities.
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Event Watch
YouTube Dialogues: AI for India
Aakhya India partnered with YouTube for our second event of the year with YouTube Dialogues: AI for India, held at the FilmBazaar, Goa, on November 21. This edition, hosted along the sidelines of IFFI 2024, focused on the pivotal role of Artificial Intelligence in shaping the future of creativity, emphasising YouTube's commitment to leveraging AI boldly and responsibly.
The event featured a keynote address by Shri Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, followed by a panel discussion with esteemed speakers Ms. Neerja Sekhar, Special Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Mr. Rana Daggubati, Actor & Film Producer, Mr. Varun Mayya, Science & Business YouTuber and Ms. Urvashi Aneja - Founder, Digital Futures Lab moderated by Mr. Matt Kurlanzik - YouTube’s Head of Business Public Policy for the Asia Pacific region. The discussion provided valuable perspectives on the intersection of AI and the creative industries.
At Aakhya India, we remain dedicated to facilitating meaningful conversations between industry and government, driving innovation and collaboration for a responsible AI ecosystem.
