Indian cricket at a crossroads
India in today’s cricket world are certified champions. However, things could have been very different if not for a bold and somewhat unpopular decision made by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru shortly after India’s independence.
This story is from 1949. India was on the verge of becoming a Republic — a state with its own elected government and Constitution. However, this transformation would have also meant India losing its Commonwealth membership, which would have left Indian cricket in the doldrums.
The Commonwealth of Nations is an international collective currently made up of 56 countries, the vast majority of which were a part of the British Empire in the past. Being a member of the Commonwealth allowed member countries to network and exercise soft power. Back then, the Commonwealth also had a direct influence on cricket.
Being a Commonwealth member was a prerequisite for an ICC membership — the gateway to international cricket. For instance, the USA and Argentina were active cricket playing countries in the early 20th century. However, since they were not a part of the Commonwealth, they were not granted ICC memberships and eventually the sport fizzled out there.
A controversial call
The major criterion to be in the Commonwealth was recognizing the British monarch as the symbolic head of state. This did not go down well with a large section of the Congress Party who felt that it compromised India’s hard-fought independence and sovereignty and PM Nehru faced strong backlash. .
Despite the uproar, Nehru still pushed for India to remain in the Commonwealth and at the same time, worked on ensuring respect for India’s position. At the 1949 Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Meeting in London, he persuaded the member nations to change the rules of the Commonwealth, making India the first Republic in the association.
A worthwhile risk
Even today, India continues to reap the benefits of being a part of the Commonwealth. Apart from trade ties and scholarship programs, it also serves as a platform to exercise soft power and establish diplomatic goodwill. And of course, without it, Indian cricket would not be the behemoth it is today.
By the way, Nehru was a cricket fan himself. He famously played as well as did commentary during a charity match in 1953. “Wielding the willow after 40 years, Nehru played like a seasoned player” said a BBC report about him.
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