A Street, A Shuttle, And A Dream
It was a humid evening in Hyderabad. The sun was just dipping behind the skyline, casting orange shadows over the asphalt. Somewhere in a packed neighborhood, a worn shuttlecock bounced off a wooden racquet, again and again, echoing dreams of kids who didn’t know what “Olympics preparation” meant—but played like they did.
That scene could be anywhere: a dusty football field in Manipur, a kabaddi match erupting in a Haryana village. These aren’t just pastimes anymore—they’re becoming serious business.
Sports like kabaddi, which recently cracked the top 10 most popular sports in India, are reshaping the country’s athletic landscape, giving parents and children more role models than ever before.
Badminton, football, and kabaddi are gaining ground, not just in participation but in viewership, infrastructure, and national attention.
But why now? And how deep does this shift go?
It’s Not Just Cricket Anymore
Let’s face it—cricket has been India’s golden child for decades. But lately, things are changing. While cricket leads the pack in the top 10 most popular sports in India, according to a report by GroupM ESP, non-cricket sports accounted for 13% of total sports sponsorship spending in India in 2023, up from just 4% in 2010.¹ That’s not a fluke. That’s a cultural pivot.
More interesting? Kabaddi ranked second only to cricket in sports viewership in 2022, according to BARC India data.² That’s a homegrown contact sport beating tennis, golf, and even international football matches in the Indian market.
Badminton: The Silent Revolution
Badminton gaining popularity in India isn’t just about PV Sindhu or Kidambi Srikanth dominating world rankings. It’s about grassroots change.
- India has over 15,000 registered badminton academies, and that number is climbing steadily.³
- BAI (Badminton Association of India) reported a 47% rise in youth participation since 2018.
What’s driving this? Accessibility. Badminton courts are easier and cheaper to set up than football fields or cricket stadiums. Plus, urban parents see it as a safer, disciplined sport—good for character-building and college applications.
Also, let’s not ignore the Netflix effect—kids see Indian players competing at the Olympics, hear about their struggles, and suddenly, the sport feels real and reachable.
Kabaddi: From Dirt Pitches to Primetime
If badminton is a silent revolution, kabaddi is the roar from the soil.
Traditionally dismissed as rural and unpolished, kabaddi has muscled its way into living rooms thanks to the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). Launched in 2014, PKL has turned village champs into household names.
- Viewership crossed 222 million in its 2022 season, only second to the IPL.⁴
- Players from Iran, South Korea, Kenya, and Japan are now regular fixtures, adding international flavor.
And here’s the kicker—kabaddi is the only Indian-origin sport to go truly professional at scale. That means TV deals, player auctions, and fan rivalries… it’s no longer “just a village game.”
Let me explain why this matters: kabaddi has low entry barriers. You don’t need fancy gear, a coach, or even shoes. Just grit. And that grit is something India’s youth identify with deeply.
Football: Still Chasing the Big Dream
Football in India has always been the charming underdog. It doesn’t dominate like cricket, nor has it exploded like kabaddi. But make no mistake—football leagues in India are growing quietly, steadily, and globally.
- The Indian Super League (ISL) has brought in international stars, from Roberto Carlos to Sunil Chhetri (yes, he’s a star too).
- ISL clubs are now investing heavily in youth development—over 100 grassroots academies were launched in the last 3 years.⁵
- Viewership may not rival cricket, but football is the second-most watched sport in Indian metros.⁶
There’s also a regional twist—northeastern states like Manipur and Mizoram are football powerhouses, regularly supplying talent to national squads. And let’s not forget Kerala and West Bengal—where football isn’t just a game; it’s a religion.
So, What’s Really Fueling the Rise?
This isn’t just about sports—it’s about stories. It’s about access, identity, and aspiration.
- Media Visibility
Leagues like PKL and ISL brought structured formats, professional storytelling, and glamor to previously niche sports. - Role Models
Kids now grow up idolizing more than just Virat Kohli. They see PV Sindhu with Olympic medals, Rahul Chaudhari diving into tackles, and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu saving goals on international turf. - Infrastructure & Investment
- States like Odisha are pumping money into sports academies, hosting world championships in hockey and badminton.
- Private firms are jumping in too. Tata Trusts, Reliance Foundation, and JSW Sports are developing world-class facilities.
- Cultural Recalibration
While cricket and football dominate the top 10 most popular sports in India, parents today are open to letting their kids explore beyond these mainstream arenas.
Not Just Fun and Games: The Bigger Picture
Here’s where it gets serious.
Surprisingly, even lesser-known games from the top 10 most popular sports in India like kabaddi, football, and badminton aren’t just giving kids a shot at fame—they’re reshaping how India thinks about success.
- Sports instill resilience. Kids learn to lose, adapt, and come back stronger.
- They promote inclusivity—rural, urban, rich, poor… everyone has a shot.
- And increasingly, they offer viable careers. Coaching, physiotherapy, sports analytics—the ecosystem is widening.
If you’re still wondering whether this shift matters, just ask yourself: when was the last time an Indian household didn’t talk about a match that wasn’t cricket?
What’s Next? Keeping the Momentum Alive
If India wants to compete globally—not just in medal tallies, but in mindset—it needs to keep this wheel turning. That means:
- Government and private sector cooperation to build and maintain infrastructure.
- Consistent media coverage for non-cricket sports.
- Parental encouragement to treat sports as seriously as academics.
And most importantly, we need to let kids play. Not just in formal training centers, but in parks, empty plots, and schoolyards. Let them chase a football, jump for a shuttle, or yell across a kabaddi mat. That’s where the magic begins.
Final Whistle
The winds are shifting. Influenced by the visibility of the top 10 most popular sports in India, Indian parents are increasingly seeing sports not just as a hobby but as a legitimate life skill builder. Badminton, football, and kabaddi are gaining ground, not through force, but through faith—faith that India’s sporting dreams can be bigger than one game. Faith that children from small towns, middle-class families, or tribal villages can rise just as high.
Let them rise.
Sources:
- GroupM ESP India Sports Sponsorship Report 2023
- BARC India Sports Viewership Study 2022
- Badminton Association of India (BAI) Annual Report 2023
- Broadcast Audience Research Council India – PKL 2022 viewership data
- Indian Super League Grassroots Development Report 2023
- Kantar Sports Viewership Survey 2022
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