Cricket, long regarded as a unifying force across South Asia, is increasingly entangled with political influences linked to India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Once celebrated as an institution that transcended historical, religious, and political divides in the region, the sport is now reflecting the same tensions that traditionally separate India and its neighbors.

Cricket is ubiquitous across India, with a near year-round season including international fixtures, domestic competitions, and the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL). The sport’s massive cultural and financial footprint has given India significant sway over its global governance. This influence has deepened under the Modi administration. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the country’s governing body for the sport, has been described by cricket commentators as closely aligned with the BJP. Adding to this perception is the rise of Jay Shah, the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) chairman and son of India’s Home Minister Amit Shah, who is the second most powerful figure in Modi’s government. Critics question whether Jay Shah’s elevation was based on merit or political connections.

The blending of politics and cricket has manifested in several high-profile instances. A notable example is the Narendra Modi Stadium, inaugurated in 2021 and named after the serving prime minister—an unusual honor while in office. The stadium has hosted events often seen as politically symbolic, including a 2020 rally with then-U.S. President Donald Trump and controversial matches such as an India-Pakistan World Cup game held in Modi’s home state of Gujarat. Observers have suggested that staging the match there was a deliberate political statement, and some commentators have called the tournament an extended election campaign.

Tensions escalated further during the 2025 Asia Cup when the Indian national team refused to shake hands with Pakistan’s players after their victory. This decision followed a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir, which India blamed on Pakistani militants, intensifying military and diplomatic conflict between the two countries. The Indian team’s captain dedicated the win to the Indian armed forces, while Modi himself likened the victory to a battle triumph on social media, framing the game in militaristic terms.

The entanglement of sport and politics has also affected the IPL’s player recruitment. In January, Bollywood star and IPL franchise owner Shah Rukh Khan faced backlash after signing a Bangladeshi player. Hindu religious leaders and BJP politicians publicly condemned the move, with some calling Khan a traitor and demanding that the player’s earnings be redirected to victims of violence in Bangladesh. Under mounting pressure, the BCCI ordered Khan’s franchise to release the player. In response, Bangladesh briefly banned IPL broadcasts and later joined a boycott of a cricket World Cup hosted in India. Pakistan, allied with Bangladesh in the dispute, reportedly considered boycotting its match against India as well.

India’s dominance in cricket, fueled by the IPL’s financial success, has reshaped the sport’s global calendar and commercial landscape. This power has granted India considerable influence over international cricket decisions, but critics argue that the politicization of the game undermines its traditional role as a bridge in a fractured region. For decades, cricket matches—especially between India and Pakistan—were seen as moments of peaceful engagement amid broader geopolitical conflict. The current politicization marks a shift away from that legacy, prompting concern that the sport’s growing nationalism may be detrimental to both cricket and the broader goal of regional harmony.