Does Football Suffer Because of Cricket? A Conversation on India’s Sporting Landscape
Bengaluru Football Club’s Sunil Chhetri scores a goal during the Indian Super League football match between Bengaluru Football Club and Sporting Club Delhi, in Bengaluru. The image captures a moment of sporting excellence, but it also raises a broader question about the place of football in a cricket-obsessed nation.
The Indian cricket team is among the best in the world right now. But the Indian football team continues to plummet in FIFA rankings. How big a factor is the performance of the respective teams in determining the popularity and growth of each sport? This question sits at the heart of a broader conversation about India’s sporting identity, its priorities, and its potential.
The Performance Factor
Yannick Colaco offers a nuanced perspective: “The performance of the Indian team is extremely important. I think that essentially just creates better sentiment. Anything that can create positivity around a sport is a good thing. But I don’t think it is the only thing.”
He points out that even in cricket, India was not consistently winning global tournaments in the past, but cricket was still extremely popular. Building the fandom that has already been developed around football and recounting the stories of footballers are essentially how we can actually move beyond performance of the Indian team.
Abhik Chatterjee emphasises the need for systemic change: “There needs to be a concentrated effort across the board. All the stakeholders, whether it is the clubs, federation, or broadcaster, need to come together. There is a way to convey why football is what it is, and why people love the sport.”
He argues that foundations need to be put in place at the bottom and developed gradually all the way to the top. It needs to be systemic and sustainable.
The ISL Experiment
When the ISL, which was modelled along the lines of the Indian Premier League in cricket, began in 2014, there was a lot of optimism. People believed that this was a new dawn for Indian football. Has that opportunity been squandered?
Colaco rejects the idea of a “silver bullet”: “People are attracted towards the concept of a silver bullet. They think one move is suddenly going to change everything. It does not work that way. When the ISL was set up, it was a very positive move. The ISL has close to 150 million fans across the country. I think there is still optimism around the game of football.”
Chatterjee sees the ISL as foundational: “Nothing is wasted. The ISL has paved the way for people to start watching a professionally marketed domestic football league that from the beginning featured players from around the world.”
He points to the impact of foreign coaches: “We have had some top foreign coaches come into the league over the last decade. Indian coaches have obviously benefited from working with them. They have learned how to upgrade themselves. Some of them have gone on to become head coaches in their own right.”
This is a small example of how the ISL has contributed to the ecosystem. There are positives to be grateful for, even as there are aspects to improve.
The Media Rights Question
When the ISL media rights were sold, there were comparisons with the valuation of the IPL media rights. Joy Bhattacharyya famously said that if India is to take itself seriously as a sporting nation, this bizarrely skewed ratio has to come down.
Colaco cautions against putting out numbers without context: “In today’s social media world, putting out numbers without context has become a norm. The situation is a lot more complex. The media rights value is definitely not a reflection of the state of a sport in our country.”
He argues that the focus should be on following, viewership, attendance, and much more to judge a sport. Monetisation will happen, but if you focus only on that, you won’t concentrate on the most important aspect of football, which is essentially how the fan base is growing.
The Governance Challenge
In terms of governance, cricket seems to largely have its house in order. In football, the administration has been riddled with controversies. How detrimental has that been?
Chatterjee acknowledges the issues: “There are multiple issues that Indian football has gone through in the past year. It would be foolish to deny that. It is out in the open. But there is an opportunity to move in a new direction.”
He notes that clubs have come together in a refreshing way: “I speak more with my colleagues than I ever have in the last 14 years. Everybody has taken joint ownership of the product. Everybody is hands-on in taking decisions across the board, whether it comes to governance, broadcast, marketing, or sponsorships. That approach has stemmed from the challenges faced over the past few months.”
He points out that cricket has also had issues when it comes to administration, but through India doing well at the international stage and with strong leadership, it has settled into what it is today. The ISL is still in a growing phase, but everybody is committed to moving forward and working together to solve issues.
The Path Forward
How optimistic are we of India widening its sporting footprint, with cricket and football thriving together? Or will football always be a distant number 2 sport?
Colaco takes the long view: “The sporting footprint is already widening in terms of participation. There is no one-year, two-year solution. We need to think of this and plan for the next five or 10 years. You keep building milestones in that space.”
He cautions against expecting football to suddenly become 10 times its size in a year or two. It must be built patiently, in the right way.
Chatterjee offers a crucial perspective: “Football has to be looked at in a singular manner, in its own ecosystem, and within its own set of challenges. If you do want to compare, you should compare India to neighbouring countries in the Asian Football Confederation that we have to catch up with or match.”
Countries like Australia, Thailand, and Hong Kong offer more valid comparisons than cricket-obsessed India. Those are the discussions that need to happen.
Conclusion: Two Sports, One Future
Does football suffer because of cricket? The answer is not straightforward. Cricket’s dominance creates challenges, but it does not foreclose possibilities. The 150 million fans of the ISL are proof that there is space for multiple sports.
The real question is not whether football can compete with cricket, but whether football can realise its own potential. That requires systemic change, patient investment, and a focus on the fundamentals: participation, coaching, infrastructure, and fan engagement.
Cricket will remain India’s primary sport for the foreseeable future. But football can grow alongside it, not as a rival but as a complementary passion for millions of Indians. The opportunity is there. The question is whether Indian football’s stakeholders can seize it.
Q&A: Unpacking Cricket and Football in India
Q1: How important is the performance of the Indian football team to the sport’s growth?
Yannick Colaco argues that while performance creates positive sentiment, it is not the only factor. Even when India wasn’t consistently winning cricket tournaments, cricket remained popular. Building fandom and telling footballers’ stories can motivate people beyond national team performance. Abhik Chatterjee adds that systemic change across all stakeholders is needed.
Q2: What has been the impact of the Indian Super League?
The ISL has been foundational, paving the way for a professionally marketed domestic league featuring international players. It has attracted top foreign coaches, benefiting Indian coaches who have learned and upgraded themselves. The league has close to 150 million fans. While there are improvements to be made, the ISL has contributed positively to the ecosystem.
Q3: How does football governance compare to cricket?
Cricket governance is largely settled and effective. Football administration has been riddled with controversies, but clubs have come together to take joint ownership of the product. Chatterjee notes that cricket also had issues but settled through strong leadership and international success. The ISL is still growing, but stakeholders are committed to solving issues collectively.
Q4: What is the right benchmark for Indian football’s progress?
According to Abhik Chatterjee, football should be looked at in its own ecosystem with its own challenges. The right comparison is not with cricket but with neighbouring countries in the Asian Football Confederation that India needs to catch up with or match—countries like Australia, Thailand, and Hong Kong. Those are more valid benchmarks.
Q5: Can cricket and football thrive together in India?
Yannick Colaco believes the sporting footprint is already widening in terms of participation, but there is no one-year solution. It requires planning for the next five or ten years, building milestones patiently. Cricket will remain primary, but football can grow alongside it as a complementary passion. The opportunity is immense, but requires systemic, patient development.
