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Cricket’s popularity in India goes far beyond packed stadiums and television ratings. It is a sport that lives on even when no match is being played, through conversations, memories, data, and daily habits. The reason cricket commands such loyalty lies not just in the game itself, but in how deeply it has become part of India’s social and cultural rhythm.

1. A Game That Is Easy to Play, Easy to Love

Cricket’s mass appeal begins at the grassroots level. Unlike many other sports, it doesn’t require specialised infrastructure. A small open space, a bat, and a ball are enough. For decades, children across cities and villages have grown up playing informal games, learning rules instinctively, and developing an early emotional connection with the sport. This early familiarity makes cricket less of a spectacle and more of a shared experience.

2. Players Who Became Cultural Icons

Indian cricket has been shaped by players whose influence extends far beyond the boundary line. Sachin Tendulkar inspired an entire generation with his consistency and humility, becoming a symbol of aspiration in the 1990s. MS Dhoni defined leadership with calm decision-making and led India through some of its most memorable victories. Today, Virat Kohli represents intensity, fitness, and modern professionalism, resonating strongly with younger fans.

These players didn’t just win matches, they shaped conversations, attitudes, and even personal identities. Their journeys are discussed as much as their performances, keeping fans emotionally invested year-round.

3. Storytelling That Extends Beyond the Match

Cricket thrives on narratives. Rivalries, comebacks, and turning points are replayed endlessly in discussions long after a series ends. A close loss or dramatic win often becomes a reference point in everyday conversations. This storytelling culture ensures cricket remains relevant even during breaks in the international calendar.

4. Technology and the Rise of the Second-Screen Fan

Digital platforms have changed how fans follow the sport. Live score apps, ball-by-ball commentary, analytics dashboards, podcasts, and social media debates allow fans to stay connected continuously. Many viewers now watch matches with a second screen in hand, tracking statistics or participating in discussions while the game unfolds.

As engagement has evolved, so have the ways fans interact with the sport off the field. Some analyse data, some play fantasy leagues, while others explore platforms that offer structured prediction-based engagement. In this wider ecosystem, fans may come across curated resources discussing the best cricket betting sites, often as part of broader research into how digital platforms are reshaping cricket-related participation.

5. Cricket as a Social and Cultural Event

Major matches in India are rarely solitary experiences. Families plan gatherings around key games, cafés and offices stream live action, and entire neighbourhoods pause during crucial moments. Cricket aligns naturally with festivals, weekends, and national moods, turning matches into shared social rituals rather than just sporting events.

6. Media That Never Lets the Game Pause

Even when no series is underway, cricket dominates news cycles. Team selections, player fitness, and upcoming tours are analysed continuously by sports media. International developments are closely followed through organisations like the International Cricket Council (ICC), keeping Indian fans connected to the global game.

7. A Sport That Offers Something for Everyone

Perhaps cricket’s greatest strength is its flexibility. Casual viewers enjoy the drama, data enthusiasts dive into numbers, tacticians analyse strategies, and long-time fans follow players’ careers closely. The sport accommodates every level of interest, making it easy for people to engage in their own way.

In India, cricket is not confined to the field of play. It lives on through players, platforms, stories, and shared experiences, long after the final over is bowled. That enduring presence is what truly makes cricket the most followed sport in the country.

Bengaluru: As the dust settles on the recent legislative session, the corridors of Vidhana Soudha are buzzing with more than just policy talk. A high-stakes game of political musical chairs has begun, exposing a deepening rift within the Congress party’s Muslim leadership as a major Cabinet reshuffle looms.

With the party hierarchy signaling a "50% refresh" to gear up for the 2028 Assembly elections, the race to fill three projected Muslim ministerial berths has transformed from a strategic discussion into an all-out turf war.

The "Star Son" Spark

The internal friction turned public this week following provocative remarks by Zaid Khan, actor and son of Wakf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan. Zaid’s claim—that his father "helped" secure a ticket for Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad in 2023—has acted as a lightning rod for resentment.

Rizwan’s camp was quick to fire back, dismissing the comment as a desperate attempt by Zameer to manufacture seniority. "Rizwan’s political pedigree was forged in the NSUI and Youth Congress long before Zameer even stepped into the party," a supporter noted, highlighting Rizwan’s tenure as an AICC secretary and his two-term presidency of the State Youth Congress.

A Tale of Two Loyalists

While both Zameer Ahmed Khan and Rizwan Arshad are staunch allies of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and represent Bengaluru strongholds, their political DNA could not be more different:

•    Zameer Ahmed Khan: A four-time MLA who crossed over from JD(S) in 2018. Known for his "overzealous" and often polarizing outreach during communal flashpoints—from the DJ Halli riots to the recent Wakf land notice controversy—his style has frequently left the Congress high command in a state of "discomfort."

•    Rizwan Arshad: A homegrown organizational man. Seen as a "quiet performer," Arshad represents the sophisticated, moderate face of the party, preferred by those who find Zameer’s brand of politics too volatile.

The Outsiders Looking In

The bickering isn't limited to a duo. The "Beary" community, represented by leaders like N A Haris and Saleem Ahmed, is demanding its pound of flesh. Saleem Ahmed, the Chief Whip in the Legislative Council, has dropped the veil of diplomacy, openly declaring his ministerial aspirations.

"I was the only working president not included in the Cabinet last time," Saleem noted pointedly, signaling that the "loyalty quota" is no longer enough to keep the peace.

As Chief Minister Siddaramaiah prepares to finalize the list, he faces a delicate balancing act: rewarding the aggressive grassroots mobilization of Zameer’s camp without alienating the organizational stalwarts and minority sub-sects who feel increasingly sidelined by the "Chamarajpet-Shivajinagar" binary.

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Government Polytechnic (KPT), Mangaluru, has achieved autonomous status from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), becoming the first government polytechnic in the country to receive such recognition in its 78-year history. The status was granted by AICTE, New Delhi, and subsequently approved by the Karnataka Board of Technical Education in October last year.

Officials said the autonomy was conferred a few months ago. Until recently, AICTE extended autonomous status only to engineering colleges, excluding diploma institutions. However, with a renewed national focus on skill development, several government polytechnics across India have now been granted autonomy.

KPT, the second-largest polytechnic in Karnataka, was established in 1946 with four branches and has since expanded to offer eight diploma programmes, including computer science and polymer technology. The institution is spread across a 19-acre campus.

Ravindra M Keni, the first dean of the institution, told The Times of India that AICTE had proposed autonomous status for polytechnic institutions that are over 25 years old. “Many colleges applied. In the first round, 100 institutions were shortlisted, which was further narrowed down to 15 in the second round. We have already completed one semester after becoming an autonomous institution,” he said. He added that nearly 500 students are admitted annually across eight three-year diploma courses.

Explaining the factors that helped KPT secure autonomy, Keni said the institution has consistently recorded 100 per cent admissions and placements for its graduates. He also noted its strong performance in sports, with the college emerging champions for 12 consecutive years, along with active student participation in NCC and NSS activities.

Autonomous status allows KPT to design industry-oriented curricula, conduct examinations, prepare question papers, and manage academic documentation independently. The institution can also directly collaborate with industries and receive priority funding from AICTE or the Ministry of Education. While academic autonomy has been granted, financial control will continue to rest with the state government.

“There will be separate committees for examinations, question paper setting, boards of studies, and boards of examiners. The institution will now have the freedom to conduct admissions without government notifications and issue its own marks cards,” Keni said, adding that new academic initiatives would be planned after a year of functioning under the autonomous framework.