What Are the Most Popular Sports in India in 2024?

India is known for its diverse sporting culture, given that different sports capture the attention of many people in the country. Cricket is still number one, as it commands the great interest of all the sports. However, recently other sports and competitive activities are gaining rapid pace. Moving into 2024, here is a look at the sports that settled well in the hearts of Indians and continue to increase in popularity.

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Cricket

Without a doubt, cricket is India's premier sport, and even in the year 2024, it is the most played sport in the country. The Indian Premier League (IPL), which garners international interest, greatly contributes towards the popularity of the sport. There are millions of people who watch cricket matches, and the entire country tunes in for the derby, India vs. Pakistan. These derby games always have record viewing numbers live and on TV.

A few athletes, such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and young Shubman Gill, are some of the biggest celebrities in the country and inspire generations of future cricket players. Interest in this game in India almost cuts across age levels and regions of the country, making it indeed a national sport. 

Football (Soccer)

Football is an international sport, and its popularity keeps pushing boundaries. In the past decade, football has become increasingly popular in India. This is mostly due to the Indian Super League (ISL), and the elite football leagues from Europe, like Premier League from the UK, La Liga from Spain, and the famous European competition for the best of the best, the Champions League. The growth in viewership helped local talent develop significantly, increase club budgets, and take the sport to a different level in the country.

In 2024, young people in India certainly resonate with football, and it's only expected for Indians to pay more attention to this sport in the future. 

Badminton

International stars like P.V. Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth have been crucial in badminton's development in India. In fact, badminton became one of the fastest rising sports in the country with the help of Sindhu. The Olympic silver medallist is an inspiration to young Indians and works with the youth to help them develop into professional athletes.

The Premier Badminton League (PBL), along with India’s strong performances in international tournaments, has fuelled the sport’s popularity. Badminton’s appeal lies in its simplicity, low cost of play, and widespread availability, making it a favourite across various age groups and regions.

Kabaddi

Kabaddi, an age-old Indian game, has been more popular due to the success of the Pro Kabaddi League. This contact sport, which was once restricted to simple indoor and outdoor operations, is very popular among many people in the whole nation now. The popularity of the sport in urban centres has been largely promoted by the PKL, which resembles the franchised structure of the IPL.

India being the leading rosary of international kabaddi competitions and the growing viewership of the league confirmed kabaddi’s position as a respectable sport in the country. The fast-moving action, ease of the game’s rules, and deep traditional values associated with the game, make kabaddi an interesting sport for the spectators.