While cricket arrived in the US along with migrants from England, and the first ‘international’ match on American soil—Canada versus US—was played in 1844, the country has since snubbed cricket, forging its own distinct sporting culture through baseball, basketball and American football.
Spreading cricket to the Americas has been a long-standing desire of the International Cricket Council. Primarily for monetary reasons, but also to expand the horizons of cricket. Though immigrants brought cricket with them to America, it was only after those from the subcontinent, particularly India, reached a critical population mass and had substantive disposable income, that cricket in the US got a fillip.
Whether the US turns out to be the El Dorado for cricket will depend on how this tournament pans out, and more particularly on how India fares. A fine show by India, perchance a title win, would create a more dazzling aura for cricket that would not only hook Indian-Americans further, but also spread the gospel of cricket to people from various other countries in the melting pot that is the US.
On the field, India face the challenge of living up to the reputation of being the most powerful cricketing nation, not just in the corridors of power, but also on the field of play. In 2007, when the T20 World Cup started, India were surprise winners. Since then, they have not won the title. In fact, since 2013, India have not won any ICC Trophy. For Rohit Sharma and his team, correcting that record should be top priority.
Circle of influence
The circle of influence is not an isolated one. It is etched by myriads of experiences, relationships and learnings that we amass, helping us address tectonic shifts in life.
people
Andrew Garfield and Shraddha Kapoor was a cross-pollination waiting to happen.
Women riders and drivers
I am honestly surprised at how little interest the rest of India has in the Himalayan region in general. Right from Kashmir and Ladakh to Himachal, Uttarakhand and the northeast-these areas are filled and fueled by their own unique stories and histories, but are almost foreign to the rest of us.
The 'made in heaven' couple
Sobhita Dhulipala won countless hearts-and broke a few-when she married actor Naga Chaitanya at a hyper traditional Telugu Brahmin ceremony, where every ritual was scrupulously followed.
Raj Kapoor's socialism was Nehruvian
No other Indian actor or director was as popular in Russia, Eastern Europe and China as Raj Kapoor was.
The world is his canvas
Kochi-Muziris Biennale curator Nikhil Chopra views his new role as an evolution of his artistic practice to that of a collaborator
A FORGOTTEN ROAD
William Dalrymple's new book traces ancient India's role in spreading ideas and religions across the world
TALES FROM THE TOURS
India lost one match after another in this competition, except against East Africa.
We should not play Pakistan at all
If Mohinder Amarnath's life was a movie, it would be a franchise with too many sequels to count. He describes it as a 'Hitchcock thriller.
Merry Christmas and all that
You have a shell-shocked car, but Hukum has a fine bum,\" said the missus in a muffled voice.
