Is Cricket losing its popularity amongst India's urban youth?

[Cricket Tragic]

We call Dravid as Dokku Dravid and many switch off the TV while he is batting cause they call it boring...

:facepalm: You're a massive Sehwag fan though, aren't you?

[deepak_sach]

You from south india??

Yup.Know R Ashwin very well!

[deepak_sach]

:facepalm: You're a massive Sehwag fan though, aren't you?

:agree: +Tendulkar when he is attacking.... Infact we followed the Mohali Test Match while in school.Some of them even gave a treat.

[pinkfreud]

No. People will watch regardless of the success or the stars. You have to remember competitions like EPL and NBA are wayyyyyyyyy more superior then cricket. Like it or not. The trading window, contracts, new signings, pre/off season, etc... brings a whole new dimension to the fans and what they can discuss and look forward to. Thats hardly visible in cricket.......maybe soon in IPL. But till then other competitions offer a lot of more to the fans and their relationships to their favourite team then cricket.

Despite the lack of patience most younger viewers have as far as Test cricket is concerned, I still think a sizeable chunk of Indian viewership may lose interest, even if temporarily, once the Big 3 retire. I don't think as many people would be equally enthused and passionate to see a newer generation in Tests right away, simply because the contributions these 3 have made to Indian cricket are epic. I agree with the latter half of your post though. Another reason why so many Indians love Premier League football is because they get to see players from across the world battling it out for the top spot. Cricket in comparison is restricted to a few nations when it comes to both participation and viewership, and doesn't have as much to offer to fans when it comes to the league games.

[vamos_rafa]

23 is young! :two_thumbs_up: Interesting point about test series. I thought that tests were the ones that people didn't really follow.

There's a common though process that test Cricket is not followed. But many in my friend's circle and in their respective circles actually debate a lot when it comes to test cricket. I remember how during the 2001 kolkata test, we all used to meet up in the evening to discuss how should Laxman be playing the next day. These are all vivid memories. Me and my bro are test cricket freaks as well. Infact I have noticed in them, though the sample set is pretty small,that there's a lot of pride in the fact that we are #1 in tests.

[pinkfreud]

There's a common though process that test Cricket is not followed.

That's because the interest in Test cricket really has dipped over the years, even though many of us still love that format. As a whole, ODIs and even T20s enjoy better viewership in India. The ongoing series though has got everyone interested because of what's at stake for both teams, as well as the hype surrounding it. Not many people were interested in the India-WI series in comparison. The 2001 Test imo had a lot to do with the resurgence of interest in Test cricket in India.

[NareshK]

Soccer will never be as popular as cricket in India simply because Indians suck at it.:--D Cricket is a game which suits the psyche and fitness of Indian people and it has struck a chord with them for many other reasons. I dont think people in India care much about running around for 90 mins. Hockey never got as popular as Cricket despite having a history of winning so many gold medals at the Olympics. Also most of these EPL following kids belong to the middle class/rich urban population which is actually a minority and some of them follow soccer only because it makes them look cool. But Cricket is popular across the length and breadth of India and across all sections of society. Bottom line, Cricket will continue to be the No.1 sport in India by a long margin. Especially after the advent of T20. People are taking to it like a duck to water.

[vamos_rafa]

That's because the interest in Test cricket really has dipped over the years, even though many of us still love that format. As a whole, ODIs and even T20s enjoy better viewership in India. The ongoing series though has got everyone interested because of what's at stake for both teams, as well as the hype surrounding it. Not many people were interested in the India-WI series in comparison. The 2001 Test imo had a lot to do with the resurgence of interest in Test cricket in India.

Yes, you are right about people not being that intersted in Ind-WI series. But, in hindsight, I still feel its the following for ODI's which has taken a real beating. If we leave out the WC or other big events, ODI cricket is not followed as religioulsy as it used to be. Maybe because the purist would always follow test cricket and the impatient one's have found another substitute in T20.

[Cricket Tragic]

Soccer will never be as popular as cricket in India simply because Indians suck at it.:--D Cricket is a game which suits the psyche and fitness of Indian people and it has struck a chord with them for many other reasons. I dont think people in India care much about running around for 90 mins. Hockey never got as popular as Cricket despite having a history of winning so many gold medals at the Olympics. Also most of these EPL following kids belong to the middle class/rich urban population which is actually a minority and some of them follow soccer only because it makes them look cool. But Cricket is popular across the length and breadth of India and across all sections of society. Bottom line, Cricket will continue to be the No.1 sport in India by a long margin. Especially after the advent of T20. People are taking to it like a duck to water.

Of course cricket will remain number 1 because the the urban youth market is small. I've mentioned that in my OP. The question is whether cricket is/will remain number 1 within this particular market.

[pinkfreud]

Also most of these EPL following kids belong to the middle class/rich urban population which is actually a minority and some of them follow soccer only because it makes them look cool. But Cricket is popular across the length and breadth of India and across all sections of society.

That too; it's the bandwagon effect. It's interesting you mentioned that Indians aren't too keen on watching players run around for 90 minutes :cantstop: I have a few American friends, and that's exactly what they think of 'soccer' too. The viewership for club football in India has definitely increased, but it's still niche.

[phaedrus]

its also to do with the fact that these kids want to define themselves by doing what the mass isn't doing. Knowing and talking about the EPL, to these kids, makes them somehow better than the kid on the street who would know and talk about cricket matches but not the last week's arsenal-wolves game. and almost all are glory hunters, would support ManU, Arsenal or Chelsea. you would never find a single kid supporting Newcastle or having anything to do with them. It is, as many put it, the latest fad that the urban crowd is getting into. and its not necessarily with kids, i know people of my age(28-33) becoming 'ManU fans' overnight and referring to the team as 'us'. and most of this is not football specific, its EPL specific. They would hardly know about any of the other leagues in Europe, let alone the South American ones. oh and Barcelona is starting to get popular too. I remember ESPN doing a big push for the EPL right around the 2006 world cup and many, many people continue to watch football after the world cup. having folks in kerala, i remember as a kid, sitting and watching football matches with my uncles and cousins with great interest but no one cared when i used to come back to delhi and talk to kids about the teams and players. Now many of them have grown up and get into heated debates about the matches in the past they never watched!

[Guest Gunner]

F! will be the next big thing. Drivers like Karun Chandok will make a difference in that sense. The ones who support Manure and watch EPL are morons. I have said this many times, I would like these idiots to actually come to Manchester and walk the streets on a game night.

[Serani]

I find this whole apparent EPL craze cringeworthy and laughable, not going to explain the many reasons but I can have a little chuckle imagining these Indian youths getting all hot under the collar about teams they have absolutely no affinity to :giggle: As for F1 being the "next big thing" I doubt that can really happen in any country because F1 is such an elitist and lets be honest pretty rubbish "sport". You cant exactly go out and play F1 with your mates can you. Thats why sports like cricket, football will always be king because you can just pickup and play.

[phaedrus]

they 'play f1' on delhi roads every dilliwalla is a race car driver

[Jersey #10]

The higher class and the kids with rich parents feel superior following a foreign sport. Good thing is that these people do not represent more than maybe 5% of Indian youth.

[Jersey #10]

F! will be the next big thing. Drivers like Karun Chandok will make a difference in that sense. The ones who support Manure and watch EPL are morons. I have said this many times' date=' I would like these idiots to actually [b']come to Manchester and walk the streets on a game night.

That would be like clowns walking on a circus ramp :haha: I have seen some Indian International students trying to act all cool(cool as it's defined in India) to a basketball games wearing their boy capries.

[Andrew Peter]

Not just Rich class but even in average Catholic convent schools in metro cities football is encouraged while cricket is seldom the part of sports in the School.

[Yoda-esque]

Yup.Know R Ashwin very well!

Cool.Can you get him to do an interview for ICF ?

[Jersey #10]

Not just Rich class but even in average Catholic convent schools in metro cities football is encouraged while cricket is seldom the part of sports in the School.

That still does not cover a huge chunk of youth in India. Majority of Indian youth is middle class or lower class and they still fency Cricket as the English sport that needs to be taken over by India. So, it's still a foreign affair but not as much as the stupid footballfans and the wannabe kids.

[Jersey #10]

Yup.Know R Ashwin very well!

define "very well"...I hope it's not something like his grandfather lives in the fifth town from mine or I have a friend who's dad works with R Ashwin's second cousin.