Published Paper Details:

Cricket arrived in India as a colonial import, an elite pastime reserved for the British and their clubs. But over time, Indians made the game their own, using it as a platform for self-expression, identity, and even resistance. Nowhere was this shift more apparent than in Bombay, where cricket became deeply intertwined with the city's social and religious fabric. The Pentangular Tournament played between teams divided along communal lines--Hindus, Muslims, Parsees, Europeans, and "the Rest"--gave Indian players a rare public platform. Yet, it also reinforced religious divisions, fueling debates about nationalism and unity. This paper explores how cricket, especially through the Pentangular, became more than just a sport--it reflected and shaped issues of caste, religion, and anti-colonial struggle in late colonial Bombay. It examines how the game was both a tool of British control and a symbol of Indian defiance, deepening divides while also forging a sense of national identity. By contrasting the communal structure of the Pentangular with the more inclusive vision of the Ranji Trophy, this study reveals how cricket played a pivotal role in India's journey toward independence.