India’s sports culture thrives on diversity, passion, and tradition. While cricket continues to dominate the nation’s sporting identity, a wide range of disciplines, spanning football, badminton, hockey, and athletics, have captured millions of followers.
Emerging interests in basketball, tennis, and motorsports reflect India’s evolving urban youth culture and global sporting exposure.
The rise of leagues like the Indian Super League, Pro Kabaddi League, and Basketball Federation of India tournaments highlights a growing multi-sport enthusiasm.
From Olympic achievements in athletics to the roaring circuits of Formula racing, India’s sporting landscape is more vibrant than ever. This list explores the top 10 most popular sports shaping the heart of Indian sports fandom today.
10. Volleyball
Volleyball enjoys significant popularity in India, especially in schools, colleges, villages, and rural areas due to its team spirit and minimal infrastructure requirements. Introduced by the British in 1910, it quickly gained traction and saw institutional support through the Volleyball Federation of India (VFI).
Despite challenges such as limited media exposure, inconsistent governance, and the lack of professional leagues in many states, volleyball has a solid following.
The launch of the professional Prime Volleyball League (PVL) in 2019 gave a substantial boost to the sport, attracting millions of TV viewers and increasing digital engagement.
The PVL has played a vital role in improving the quality of Indian volleyball, helping the national team rise in the world rankings from 120 to 51.
Indian players are gaining opportunities through international exposure and training, aided by government and sports bodies’ financial support.
9. Boxing
Boxing in India has traditionally lagged behind mainstream sports in popularity, but has grown into a strong medal sport and rising commercial discipline.
Governed by the Boxing Federation of India (amateur) and other bodies (professional), most success remains in Olympic-style competitions.
A turning point came at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when Vijender Singh won India’s first boxing medal (bronze), with Akhil Kumar and Jitender Kumar reaching quarterfinals. Vijender later became World No. 1 (2009) and turned professional.
Women’s boxing has been a particular strength, led by six-time world champion Mary Kom (Olympic bronze, multiple Asian golds) and recent stars Lovlina Borgohain, Nikhat Zareen, and others.
By August 2024, India had won over 300 medals in major events. In 2025, Indian boxers won nine golds at the World Boxing Cup Finals (seven by women and two by men).
This highlighted the depth and dominance of the current generation. Parallel to elite success, the rise of new domestic events, talent identification tournaments, and boxing-centric academies has strengthened pathways in both lighter and heavier weight categories, with the BFI and the Indian Army, Railways, and state units all running structured programs to expand the talent pool.
8. Table Tennis
Table tennis in India has seen steady growth and increasing popularity, especially in urban centers and metro cities, but also spreading to tier 2 and tier 3 cities.
The sport is commonly played recreationally across schools, colleges, and offices, making it one of the widely accessible indoor games.
The launch of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) league in 2017 was a landmark moment, providing a professional platform for Indian and international players, and boosting viewership and interest significantly. This franchise-based league has expanded to include multiple teams and showcases high-quality competitive matches, helping develop Indian talent and increase the sport’s visibility.
India’s men’s and women’s national teams are ranked among the top 15 worldwide, reflecting improved performances in recent international tournaments.
Efforts to use technology, advanced training methods, and international coaching have enhanced player development.
7. Wrestling/Pehlwani
Kushti, or pehlwani, is a traditional Indian wrestling style born from the fusion of Persian koshti pahlevani and Indian malla-yuddha since ancient mahabharata times.
The term means “heroic wrestling,” and its practitioners are called pehlwans. The Great Gama, Kikkar Singh (Prem Singh), Guru Hanuman, Dara Singh, and KD Jadhav are among its most legendary figures, renowned globally for their strength and technique.
Kushti’s influence extends to catch wrestling, folkstyle, freestyle, and even modern MMA. In India, kushti remains deeply rooted in states like Haryana, Punjab, and Maharashtra, with akharas (training grounds) nurturing new talent.
Recent years have seen a resurgence, with Indian wrestlers excelling in international events, including the World Championships and Asian Games, inspired by icons like Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik.
6. Tennis
Tennis enjoys a significant following in India, especially in urban areas, and is counted among the country’s most popular sports.
The All India Tennis Association, founded in 1920, governs the sport, while India’s Davis Cup team remains Asia’s most accomplished, reaching the final three times.
Indian tennis stars like Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, and Sania Mirza have achieved global acclaim, with Paes winning an Olympic bronze and Bhupathi and Mirza securing multiple Grand Slam titles.
Despite limited top-100 singles players, India has a strong doubles tradition and a rising number of young talents.
With 41 million fans and increasing participation in tournaments and academies, tennis continues to inspire new generations and maintain its elite status in Indian sports.
5. Badminton
Badminton is one of India’s most popular sports, governed by the Badminton Association of India (BAI), with over 20 million registered players and a stable 56% youth fan base as of 2025.
Indian shuttlers like Saina Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu, and Kidambi Srikanth have consistently ranked among the world’s top 10, inspiring widespread participation.
Prakash Padukone was the first Indian to reach World No. 1, followed by Saina Nehwal in 2015 and Srikanth in 2018.
Despite recent dips in elite performance, leagues like the Premier Badminton League and national academies continue to nurture talent, sustaining badminton’s status as a major sport in India.
4. Kabaddi
Kabaddi, a traditional Indian sport, is one of the country’s most popular, governed by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) and played in multiple forms, including Amar, Suranjeevi, Hututtoo, and Gaminee. India has dominated the Asian Games, winning gold in all four editions, and the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), launched in 2014, has become the most successful non-cricket league in India, drawing over 225 million viewers in 2025.
Legendary players like Rakesh Kumar and Rahul Chaudhari have led the national team, with Chaudhari winning gold at the 2016 Asian Games.
This Indian origin sport enjoys strong grassroots support, especially in rural areas, and continues to grow through regional leagues and international exposure.
3. Field Hockey
Field hockey, though not officially India’s national sport, is widely regarded as such due to its historic Olympic success and iconic legends like Dhyan Chand.
India’s men’s team is the most decorated in Olympic history, with 8 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze medals, and won the Hockey World Cup in 1975.
The team revived its glory with a bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and repeated the feat at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The women’s team earned silver at the 2018 Asian Games. India continues to dominate Asian competitions, winning the recent Asian Champions Trophy and Asia Cup titles.
Players like Sandeep Singh have added to the legacy, inspiring future generations.
2. Football
Football is one of India’s most popular sports, second only to cricket, with over 305 million fans and a rapidly growing audience, especially among millennials and Gen Z.
The Indian Super League (ISL), launched in 2014, now features 14 clubs and has significantly boosted football’s profile, attracting global stars and increasing viewership.
The I-League remains a key competition, and India also hosts the Santosh Trophy, a historic knockout tournament between states.
The country made history by hosting the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017, marking its first FIFA event. With increased coverage of international leagues, rising grassroots participation, and strong support from digital platforms, football continues to expand its footprint across India.
1. Cricket
Cricket is India’s most famous sport, with over 1.1 billion fans and record-breaking viewership for both international and domestic events.
The Indian team has triumphed in the ICC Cricket World Cup (1983, 2011), ICC T20 World Cup (2007), and ICC Champions Trophy (2002 shared, 2013), fueling nationwide passion.
Legendary players like Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Ravi Shastri, and Sachin Tendulkar have left an indelible mark on the game.
India’s domestic structure features major tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy, Deodhar Trophy, and Duleep Trophy, while the BCCI’s Indian Premier League (IPL) is the world’s most-watched T20 league, attracting over a billion viewers in 2025.
Cricket’s dominance is reflected in its unmatched media coverage, fan engagement, and cultural significance across India.