Cricket in India is not a sport — it’s a memory that binds millions. It’s in the chalk-marked wickets in alleys, Sunday wails from living rooms, and the frustrations we felt watching an overstepped run. It’s not sport — it’s emotion, it’s identity. And like all magnificent emotions, cricket hit the silver screen. Not just as a subject, but as the spirit of some classics. Here are 7 films about cricket that have captured the passion, the battle, and the belief Indians have for the game.
1. MS Dhoni: The Untold Story
A Small-Town Boy with Big Dreams film puts you face to face with Dhoni’s life — from being a schoolboy in Ranchi, juggling studies, sports, and a railway job to becoming one of India’s finest captains. Sushant Singh Rajput’s performance adds depth and realism to Dhoni’s humble grit. Why Watch: Because it shows how grit, patience, and belief can take you from a train station to the world stage.
2. Sachin: A Billion Dreams
A Legend in His Own Words hagiography this time — it’s Sachin speaking in his voice. Alternating between personal footage and turning cricketing points, it’s an intimate, emotional journey of the boy who carried a nation’s dreams with him every time he went to bat. Why Watch: If Sachin was part of your childhood, this one will be like a warm stroll down memory lane.
3. Iqbal
A Silent Fighter’s Loud Statement Iqbal, a deaf and mute child, wants to play for India. With little support and many hurdles, his story is told with honesty and spirit. Directed by a reluctant coach, Iqbal’s passion and dedication teach us the true meaning of what it takes to be a cricketer. Why Watch: Because it proves you don’t have to have a voice to make a voice heard — just the heart to chase your dream.
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4. 83
When Underdogs Became Legends, India was never destined to win till 1983. Kapil Dev’s team, however, rewrote history. That’s what this movie re-creates, its performance by Ranveer Singh as Kapil, being of lifetime quality. There is electric energy that infects you, and the nostalgia hurts. Why Watch: Because it captures India at the moment that it finally became convinced about the future of Indian cricket.
5. Shabaash Mithu
A Trailblazer’s The story of Mithali Raj — a woman who picked up the bat when few even watched women’s matches. Taapsee Pannu brings Mithali’s struggle and spirit to life, showing what it takes to shine in a space long dominated by men. Why Watch: Because it treats women’s cricket with the respect and dignity it’s always deserved.
6. Jersey
More Than a Game — A Father’s Redemption is not a bout tournaments or trophies. It’s a bout a father trying to get back his pride and his bond with his son. Shahid Kapoor plays a retired cricketer who takes to the pitch once again for intensely personal reasons. Raw, emotional, and quietly potent. Why Watch: Because it shows how sometimes, re-playing is healing — and not winning.
7. Chain Kulii Ki Main Kulii
Cricket with a whiff of Magic. An orphaned young boy finds a magic bat that turns him into an overnight star. The film combines fantasy, fun, and a heartwarming story, and draws on every child’s dream that one day they will play for India. And yes, Rahul Dravid has a sweet cameo too. Why Watch: For the sheer thrill, the nostalgia, and that very simple credulity about magic and cricket.
Final Over: More Than Just Cricket
What most comes together in these films isn’t the game itself, but the players themselves, with hope, with passion, and sometimes against insurmountable odds. The tales capture our own aspirations, struggles, and triumphs through the lens of cricket. So the next time TV’s not showing a live match, go and watch one of these movies. Let them narrate to you that in India, cricket is not played — it’s lived through each and every phase of life.
Writer-Subham Choudhary