The Wild Ride of Cricket Betting In India’s $60 Billion Market Ahead of Today's Match
India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025: How Deep is Betting Rooted in Cricket in India? Let’s Dive In!
Betting on cricket in India isn’t some new fad, it’s been part of the culture for ages, growing right alongside the game itself. Think of it as that secret spice everyone knows about but no one talks openly, especially because most of it is technically illegal!
Way back in 1867, the British tried to put a stop to public gambling with the Public Gambling Act. Problem? It was about as effective as using a tiny umbrella in a monsoon, outdated and easy to dodge. So, betting just went undercover and thrived in the shadows.
Then came 1983, when India won the Cricket World Cup, and suddenly, everyone was hooked!
With millions glued to their screens, the betting world exploded too, creating a massive underground scene.
So, whether you’re a cricket fan or just love a cheeky wager, betting and cricket in India have been inseparable buddies for a long, long time!
Best Bet – India’s Superstar:
Abhishek Sharma is on fire!
He’s smashing runs like it’s a video game — 309 runs, average 51.50, strike rate over 200!
His scores? 30, 31, 38, 74, 75, 61 — no flops here!
Fancy backing him to top score again? Seems like a no-brainer!
Pakistan’s Dark Horse:
Sahibzada Farhan is the wildcard.
Scores have been a rollercoaster (29, 40, 5, 58, 24, 4), but guess what? His two best innings came against India!
Could he surprise everyone and be Pakistan’s top scorer? Why not!
Bowling Magic for Pakistan:
Shaheen Afridi might just be the secret weapon.
He’s grabbed 9 wickets already and is on a hot streak (3-28 vs Sri Lanka, 3-17 vs Bangladesh).
Sure, India has beaten him before, but maybe this time, he’ll bowl like a boss.
India’s Likely Line-up:
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy.
Pakistan’s Usual Suspects:
Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
Quick Stats You’ll Want To Know:
(With Inputs From Publically Available Sources)
(Disclaimer: Betting should be done responsibly and for entertainment purposes only. Please be aware of the legal regulations regarding betting in your region before placing any bets. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose. If you or someone you know may have a gambling problem, seek help from professional support organizations. Play safe and stay in control!)
Aishwarya is a journalism graduate with over three years of experience thriving in the buzzing corporate media world. She’s got a knack for decoding business news, tracking the twists and turns of the stock market, covering the masala of the entertainment world, and sometimes her stories come with just the right sprinkle of political commentary. She has worked with several organizations, interned at ZEE and gained professional skills at TV9 and News24, And now is learning and writing at NewsX, she’s no stranger to the newsroom hustle. Her storytelling style is fast-paced, creative, and perfectly tailored to connect with both the platform and its audience. Moto: Approaching every story from the reader’s point of view, backing up her insights with solid facts.
Always bold with her opinions, she also never misses the chance to weave in expert voices, keeping things balanced and insightful. In short, Aishwarya brings a fresh, sharp, and fact-driven voice to every story she touches.
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