Cricket is a religion, in India -- the only religion (sic) that unites all Indians! Indians worship their cricket heroes, much to the detriment of other sportspersons. Our craze for cricket, together with our large population has resulted in packed stadiums and high TV viewership making India a force to reckon with.
The BCCI is 28 times richer than second placed Cricket Australia Board. BCCI's prosperity has percolated right down to the grassroots -- administrators, players past and present, even to the State level players and down to the maidan malis.
Now just think if we can lift football by its bootstraps from the lowly FIFA ranking of 124 to under 50. You can be sure that the craze will surpass that of cricket, as football is the world's most popular. And this is not wishful thinking.
In 1956 India reached the Olympic semi-finals. Millions, yes millions of kids play footfall at the school level. There is great enthusiasm at the school level. Unfortunately thereafter, the system kills the game.
