India does not have an officially declared national game. However, field hockey is often mistakenly cited as the national game due to its historical success and significance in India. Indian hockey teams, particularly the men’s team, enjoyed a period of dominance in international hockey, winning several Olympic gold medals, particularly in the mid-20th century.
This historical success has led to a common misconception in India and elsewhere that field hockey is the country’s national game. However, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in India has clarified in various communications that India does not have a game that has been officially designated as the national game.
Cricket is another sport that is immensely popular in India and often dominates the sports culture of the country, but it is not officially recognized as the national game either. The popularity and significance of different sports in India vary widely, with a rich diversity of regional preferences and historical contexts.