When one thinks of the most famous athletes in history, one’s thoughts probably turn to Instagram first. While this will give you a glimpse at who is currently on top, you won’t get a sense of who might have come in the past that could have been even better.
India has made quite a name for itself in sports over the years. But who makes the ranks as the most famous athletes in Indian history? Let’s take a closer look.
Cricket
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Without question, the most famous sport in India is cricket. Cricket has gradually made a name for itself ever since the British colonials first brought it over. The game was introduced to India in the 18th century, and it gradually started to take on a life of its own in the country. It wasn’t long before India had its own clubs and eventually a national federation.
But who are the biggest names of all? Well, currently the name on everyone’s list is Virat Kohli. Kohli is known for being the only cricketer in history to win all three International Cricket Council awards in just one year. This includes the One Day International Player of the Year, ICC Test Player of the Year, and ICC Overall Player of the Year. Both inside and outside the country, those who know cricket know Virat kohli.
Another big superstar is MS Dhoni. Dhoni has been the undisputed leader in the sport in recent years and has led the Indian team to victory on multiple occasions. He even bears several fun nicknames among his fans.
Field Hockey
Those whose primary sports obsession is with cricket might fail to realize that India was actually the Olympic champion in field hockey through several successive Olympiads in the mid-1900s. The leader of this trend was Dhyan Chand. It was under Chand’s leadership that India was victorious in several Olympiads. He is widely regarded as the greatest field hockey player of all time.
Indian field hockey enthusiasts also know the name Mikha Singh, who has led the team to victory in several major tournaments throughout Asia.
Badminton
As part of a proud tradition across Asia, India has been rising in the sport of badminton over the years, both among men and women. Their star competitor among the women is PV Sindhu, who led the Indian team to medals at the Olympics and across a range of other international competitions.
Track and field
Let’s also not forget that India has a proud tradition in track and field, as well. Although sometimes overshadowed by cricket and more popular sports, India’s success in athletics goes back more than 100 years. Indian athletes have historically been considered tougher than most, particularly because they tend to run barefoot, which puts them at a significant handicap in comparison to other athletes. Back in the beginning of the 20th century the big star was Neeraj Chopra.
Current fanbase
Indians follow their favorite athletes of all stripes. Regardless of whatever internal divisions there might be in the country, sports remain a way of bringing people together. You can find Indians gathering around TVs or streaming games all over the country.
People are increasingly starting to wager on sports, as well. Thanks to the recent rise of numerous sports betting apps, people have been putting their money on their favorite teams and athletes more and more in recent years. And this trend will continue. Now that a greater number of international sites are available, and more of them are using cryptocurrency and other international currencies for payments and winnings, online betting sites are soaring in popularity across the globe.
Who will be the next superstar?
So, who will be the next person to put India on the international sports map? The future will tell. With India set to compete in 11 different sports at the Paris Olympics, we may well see a new superstar come out of the woodwork. And if history is any judge, it may be the start of a new national obsession in the country.
