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International Cricket: How India's Politics is Reshaping it

International Cricket and Indian Politics | India's dominance in cricket has made the IPL and upcoming World Cup central to the sport. However, as cricket grows, so does potential political interference.

By Priyansh, 360info
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International Cricket

International Cricket and Indian Politics | Narendra Modi stands alongside Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma during the India vs Australia 4th Test match at Narendra Modi Stadium at Ahemdabad, in Gujarat on March 09, 2023. | Photo courtesy: Prime Minister's Office | Credits GODL-India.

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International Cricket and Indian Politics

In early May, amid the simmering heat of India's general elections and record-breaking summer temperatures across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi leveraged one of India's great loves with what many say is one of his worst instincts.

Modi used India's great love of cricket to bait communal tensions along religious lines for political gain.

This time, the cocktail of discontent was delivered on a cricket field in Dhar, a city in the central state of Madhya Pradesh. Modi spun a story that claimed the major opposition party, the Indian National Congress, if voted in to power, would decide the composition of the national cricket team on the basis of religion.

Modi's perceived dog-whistle pandered to the rampant Islamophobia that is carefully nurtured among his voters as seen in recent attacks across India.

The people of Madhya Pradesh had already witnessed the Congress Party promise an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise for the state last year during the campaign in the local assembly election.

Cricket tends to go cap-in-hand with politics in India and recent events point to yet another new entanglement.

Ahead of the 2024 election, the Indian Supreme Court ended the electoral bonds funding scheme. This allowed individuals and businesses to donate to political parties anonymously and without limit.

In scrapping the scheme, in the wash up it was brought to light about the curious case of Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd, the owner of the Chennai-based IPL franchise.

The Kings are five-time champions of the IPL and home to one of Indian cricket's favourite sons M.S Dhoni, alongside

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