7 Best Books About Cricket And Indian Cricket In Particular

There are two things in the world that unite every single Indian, no matter where he or she lives, in the world – food and cricket. Cricket is way more than a sport for us. It is a living, breathing manifestation of our national consciousness and collective pride. It’s a divine sport, and the sportsmen are our gods. Here is a list of 7 best books about cricket and Indian cricket in particular that every cricket lover needs to pick up right away. Some of these are biographies, others are memoirs, while still others are non-fiction monographs.

Playing It My Way by Sachin Tendulkar

The most loved cricketer India has seen, Sachin has penned his memoir after having retired from the field. Here, he delves into his childhood and pinpoints the time he held a bat for the first time. From there, he charts his trajectory to the point of retirement. Written with unflinching honesty and unheard of simplicity, this is the tale of India’s living God.

The History of Indian Cricket by Mihir Bose

Walking us through the thrilling odyssey of Indian cricket, Bose paints a portrait of evolution of the Indian cricket scene. We begin at the conception of the Indian cricket team during the British Raj. And we end after numerous tribulations and celebrations at the current state of the Indian cricket team. From match fixing scandals and horrible failures to winning the world cup and seeing tremendous victory, we look at the world of cricket through inquisitive, entertaining eyes.

Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians by Boria Majumdar

Boria is an authority on Indian cricket and a world renowned sports journalist, and with this book he surpasses himself. In the book, we get an insider’s look into the world of cricket, full of adventure, uncertainty, glamour and tremendous excitement. Drawing on a vast archival treasure of photos, interviews, letters and more, this book simultaneously reflects on the history and confronts the future of Indian cricket.

A Century is Not Enough by Sourav Ganguly

Cricket is obviously the most beloved sport of India and Saurav-da has talked about his personal journey as a cricketer here. He has been one of India’s finest captains and reading his memoir will give you lots of insights about not just the game, but also leadership.

A Corner of a Foreign Field by Ramachandra Guha

This pioneering book takes an incisive look at the social dimensions of a national sport. From the British influence on early Indian cricket, to the modern configuration of Hindu Muslim politics in it, Guha tackles difficult subjects. All the while, he stays true to his immense passion for the sport, giving us insight into the game itself.

Believe by Suresh Raina

In this biography, Raina (using Bharat Sundaresan’s words) describes his personal journey from a small town boy in UP to the man who won the World Cup for India. This book draws on his personal and professional life, with special emphasis on the characters that played a role in it. These include his wife Priyanka, his co-cricketers MS Dhoni and Rahul Dravid and many more. He also talks about how he faced bullying in school and what gave him the strength to overcome it. This book is an insightful and engaging read, not to mention how absolutely inspiring it is.

Cricket Country by Prashant Kidambi

This book takes us through the forgotten crevices and corners of Indian history. It frames a moving portrait of the first All India cricket tour in England and Ireland. Set in the picaresque landscapes of England in 1911, it makes ripples of pride shiver through the body.

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