Our obsession with cricket and its costs
Not surprisingly, the BCCI is estimated to have earned not less than Rs 20,000 crore during the IPL 2025 season.
Updated At : 06:56 AM Jun 20, 2025 IST
Not just a game : In India, cricket is a spectacle; it is a product of mass consumption; and above all, it is a modern mythology that sells a lifestyle — glamour, money and stardom. Illustration: Sandeep Joshi
Recently, while interacting with a group of rural children in Bihar, I asked them about their favourite game. "Cricket," they replied with great excitement. I inquired further; and this time, I wanted to know the name of their favourite cricketer. "Virat Kohli," they replied with added enthusiasm. This led me to continue the conversation further. "Can you tell me the name of a great hockey player, or for that matter, a female wrestler?" I asked them. This time, there was deep silence.
