India has a vast number of cricketers due to its immense popularity across all levels, from grassroots to professional play. An estimated 15–20 million people actively participate in cricket at various levels across India, considering all organized and informal players. This makes India one of the largest cricketing populations worldwide. Precise statistics on all registered and unregistered cricketers are challenging to pinpoint.

Professional Cricketers:

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) oversees around 38 domestic teams, including those that compete in the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Approximately 700–800 players are active in India’s domestic cricket structure each year.

Amateur and Registered Players:

Hundreds of thousands are registered with local cricket associations under the BCCI. These include age-group players (under-16, under-19, and under-23) and various amateur levels.

Unregistered and Recreational Players:

Given cricket’s popularity, millions of unregistered players play cricket in schools, clubs, and informal street cricket games throughout the country.

How many international cricket players?

A national cricket team usually has around 25 players regularly under consideration for selection, though the depth of cricket talent depends largely on a country’s population and infrastructure. India has 38 domestic teams, each maintaining a pool of around 50 players ready to join the senior squad. In regions like Mumbai, the heart of India’s cricket economy, there are more players than in some entire countries.

With a structured age-group system, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) oversees about 2,500 domestic matches annually. This scale suggests that India has approximately 20,000 active players competing across various levels. Including past players and non-professional participants, the count of those who have played cricket at a decent level could reach several million, underscoring the vast body of Indian cricket.