Cricket: The Colonial Import That Refused To Leave
Explore the fascinating journey of cricket in India—from its colonial roots with the British Raj to the formation of the BCCI and India’s current dominance on the global stage.
Cricket, the gentleman’s game, the sport that arrived on Indian shores with the British and stayed long after they packed up and left, much like the habit of afternoon tea and the love for a good argument. And now, with the Indian team clinching the ICC Champions Trophy, the fans have gone positively barmy with joy. Add that to last year’s World T20 triumph, and the Men in Blue are making quite the habit of lifting silverware. It’s safe to say that cricket isn’t just a sport in India—it’s practically a religion, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) acting as its Vatican, complete with overflowing coffers and unparalleled influence.
Cricket: A Colonial Import That Refused to Leave
Cricket first arrived in India as part of the British Raj’s cultural baggage, somewhere between the administrative memos and the stiff upper lip. The earliest known mention of the game dates back to 1721, when a group of British sailors decided that batting and bowling on Indian soil was preferable to staring at the sea. As the East India Company tightened its grip, cricket followed suit, becoming an elite pastime among Indian royalty keen to impress their colonial overlords. Along with hunting, playing a decent cover drive could open many doors, or at the very least, secure a seat at the viceroy’s dinner table.
By the 19th century, cricket had found firm footing in the three Presidency cities—Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras. Calcutta, then the imperial capital, had a strong cricketing presence, but by the early 20th century, Bombay had surged ahead, cementing its reputation as India’s cricketing powerhouse. Nevertheless, Calcutta’s contributions to the game’s growth in India were nothing short of remarkable.
The First Tours and a Lagaan Moment
The first English cricket team to tour India arrived in 1889-90, led by G.F. Vernon, an amateur cricketer of considerable repute. Organised by the Calcutta Cricket Club (CCC), the tour saw the English play a series of matches across the subcontinent. It was during this tour that India experienced a ‘Lagaan-esque’ moment when the Parsees, the first Indian community to embrace the sport, stunned the visiting Vernon XI. The star of the match? Mehallasha Edulji Pavri, a fast bowler who tore through the English batting line-up with figures of 7/34. The Parsees’ success lit a competitive fire under the Hindus, leading to the rise of their own cricketing hero, Baloo Palwankar.
In the following years, the CCC continued to play a pivotal role in bringing foreign teams to India. The 1892 tour, led by Lord Hawke, saw the emergence of another Indian star, as Pavri once again wreaked havoc on the English batsmen. It was evident that cricket was no longer just an amusing colonial pastime—it had started embedding itself into the Indian sporting psyche.
Bringing Organisation to the Madness
For all the enthusiasm around the game, Indian cricket lacked a structured framework. This changed in 1926 when the CCC sent Sir William Currie and Murray Robertson to England on a mission to charm Lord Harris—former Governor of Bombay and cricketing aristocrat—into backing India’s inclusion in international cricket circles. Lord Harris, ever the cricket romantic, was delighted at the idea of spreading the gospel of the game. Thanks to his influence, India secured a seat at the Imperial Cricket Conference (the precursor to the ICC) and, more significantly, landed a tour from the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 1926.
During this tour, Colonel C.K. Nayudu delivered a show-stopping century for the Hindus, striking fourteen fours and an astonishing eleven sixes. Another standout performance came from Ladha Ramji, whose fiery spell had England captain Arthur Gilligan pleading for him to be taken off the attack—a rare sight indeed! Gilligan, a broad-minded sportsman, returned to England as an advocate for Indian cricket. With the support of Lord Harris and Indian industrialists like R.E. Grant Govan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was established in 1928. And just like that, India had earned its place in the world of Test cricket.
Bengal’s Own Cricketing Legacy
That same year, Bengal formalised its cricketing structure with the formation of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). Led by the formidable Reginald Lagden and Alec Hosie, the CAB quickly made its presence felt in the newly formed Ranji Trophy, named after the legendary K.S. Ranjitsinhji. Bengal reached the final in 1937 and won its first Ranji Trophy title in 1939 under the captaincy of Thomas Longfield. Longfield, who originally arrived in Calcutta for work, soon found himself leading Bengal to glory before retiring from Indian cricket. Amusingly, his daughter Susan would go on to marry Ted Dexter, one of England’s most stylish batsmen.
A Legacy Etched in Time
The Calcutta Cricket Club and its many architects have largely faded from public memory, but their influence on Indian cricket is undeniable. They may not have known it at the time, but their efforts laid the groundwork for a cricketing powerhouse. Today, as India continues to dominate world cricket, it’s worth remembering the quirky, determined, and occasionally eccentric pioneers who set the ball rolling—often quite literally.
So, the next time an Englishman complains about India thrashing their team, just remind him—cricket was their idea in the first place. And we’ve simply mastered it.
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