Thread by @shrikanth_krish

Those who claim Football / Hockey were more popular than Cricket before 1983 never give any data points or even any anecdotal argument to back it

1983 boosted the popularity in Northern India

But in the great urban centers - Bombay, Bangalore, Madras - Cricket was always No 1

Calcutta an exception, though Eden Gardens was no less crazy about Cricket

I have first hand information from elders who lived in Bombay, Bangalore, Chennai for much of 50s-70s, and they do vouch for Cricket's pre-eminence

Even dreary test matches attracted packed houses for much of the 60s-70s, almost without exception

Check out these clips to get a sense

Why 60s....

Even in the 20s-30s, someone like Palwankar Baloo managed to carve out a name in politics on the back of his cricketing accomplishments on the 1911 tour

Also when I talk of a game's popularity I mean -

FOllowing for the game.

Not playing the game

IN terms of which game gets played -

FOotball runs Cricket close even today across the fields in the country

Because it is a simpler sport. Demands less equipment. Takes less time

But in terms of following Cricket wins hands down

A quick test

Get a group of people who are 70 years and above in a room (random sample), and ask them about Garfield Sobers vs Ferenc Puskas (the Hungarian footballer)

Sobers will win hands down in terms of name recognition