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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
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Mihir Bose

Dear England: you gave cricket to the world, but it’s an Indian game now

Indian cricket fans before the start of the World Cup final in Ahmedabad in November
Indian cricket fans before the start of the ICC Men's World Cup final match between India and Australia in Ahmedabad, India, on 19 November. Photograph: Aijaz Rahi/AP

Whatever the on-field result of the five-Test cricket series between England and India, which starts in Hyderabad on Thursday, off the field India will still be the winner. Indian money now rules the game. India generates more than 80p for every £1 of cricket’s international income. And in international cricket, what India says always goes.

While for an English cricket fan nothing will match an Ashes series with Australia, England – which once sent B teams to India, captained by players who had never before played for their country – now sends its best teams to India. It also loves India to visit the UK.

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