For decades, cricket has been more than just a sport in India—it has been a unifying force, a national obsession, and a parallel religion followed with the kind of devotion most cultures reserve for sacred traditions. From the dusty gullies of small towns to the floodlit stadiums of metropolitan cities, the game once held the country in a near-mystical grip. But as India marches forward in a rapidly changing cultural and technological landscape, one might ask: is cricket still the cultural religion it once was?

Historically, cricket in India transcended boundaries of language, caste, class, and geography. When India won the World Cup in 1983, it wasn’t just a sporting victory—it marked a moment of national pride and emotional catharsis. Sachin Tendulkar, hailed as the “God of Cricket,” was worshipped with a reverence typically reserved for spiritual icons. Entire cities would pause during key matches. Weddings were rescheduled, streets fell silent, and strangers bonded over sixes and wickets.

In its heyday, cricket wasn't merely a game—it was a language of belonging. It stitched together a diverse nation with one thread: passion.

However, the 21st century brought with it a wave of change. The rise of smartphones, streaming platforms, and global exposure has diversified the entertainment preferences of India’s youth. Today’s generation is as likely to follow football, esports, or K-dramas as they are to tune in to a test match. Attention spans have shortened, and the demand for instant gratification makes five-day Test matches less appealing to younger audiences accustomed to the pace of reels and tweets.

Even the Indian Premier League (IPL), cricket’s most glamorous and fast-paced incarnation, though immensely popular, has transformed cricket from a soulful tradition into a commercial spectacle.

The IPL brought the Bollywoodization of cricket, turning players into brands and matches into high-octane entertainment events. While it injected unprecedented money and glamour into the sport, it also shifted the narrative—from national pride to corporate strategy. Players are now as likely to appear in shampoo ads and Instagram collaborations as they are on the field. The boundary between sport and celebrity has blurred.

This shift, while profitable, raises the question: has cricket in India become more of a business than a belief?

Cricket has also become entangled in politics and diplomacy. Matches between India and Pakistan, once charged with raw emotion, are now heavily regulated spectacles wrapped in geopolitical tension. Cricket is no longer just a leisure pursuit—it’s a reflection of national sentiment, international relationships, and even political rhetoric.

This politicization, while inevitable to an extent, has eroded the innocence that once characterized India’s cricket fever.

Despite these shifts, cricket is far from irrelevant. Stadiums still fill, hashtags still trend, and players still find themselves immortalized in street graffiti and folk songs. In small towns and rural villages, cricket continues to be a dream incubator—a way out of poverty, a symbol of aspiration, and a mirror of the nation's sporting soul.

Emerging icons like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and young talents from Tier-II and Tier-III cities still command widespread admiration. Cricket coaching academies are mushrooming across the country. The passion endures, though it may now coexist with other interests rather than monopolizing national attention.

In many ways, cricket has evolved into a shared ritual rather than a religion. No longer unquestioned or absolute, it competes for attention but still maintains a seat at the cultural table. It may no longer be the only religion Indians follow blindly, but it remains one of the most beloved.

The stadium may now echo with chants of “RCB! RCB!” instead of just “India! India!” but the spirit—though altered—still lives. Cricket in India has matured, adapted, and survived. And in a land of a billion identities, perhaps it no longer needs to be a religion—it’s enough that it’s still a heartbeat.

So, is cricket still a cultural religion in India? Perhaps not in the same sanctified, all-consuming way it once was. But it remains a vital symbol of unity, aspiration, and expression. Not a temple to which everyone kneels, but still a field where many hearts beat in unison. And in a country as multifaceted as India, that might just be enough.