India is once again not participating in the World Cup. Will it ever?

India’s absence from the World Cup yet again—this time in the T20 format—is more than a sporting disappointment; it reflects deeper structural and cultural challenges in a nation where cricket is practically a religion. The broader significance lies in the contrast between India’s cricketing dominance in revenue and broadcasting rights and its underperformance on the field, raising questions about governance, infrastructure, and the balance between commercial success and grassroots development. Historically, India’s cricketing decline isn’t sudden. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the world’s richest cricketing body, has long prioritized financial gains over nurturing talent. While the IPL generates billions, the domestic Ranji Trophy—a tournament that once produced legends—has seen dwindling interest, reduced funds, and scheduling conflicts with franchise cricket. The result? A pipeline of players who excel in short formats but struggle against traditional cricketing nations in longer, more tactical formats. Meanwhile, nations like Afghanistan and Ireland, once minnows, now pose real threats to India’s once-invincible aura. What happens next? A reset is overdue. The BCCI must invest in grassroots academies, revive the Ranji Trophy as a breeding ground for Test players, and reduce the IPL’s stranglehold on young talent. Yet reform is slow in a system where power is concentrated in the hands of a few. The next World Cup cycle may see India fielding a stronger side—or it may repeat the same pattern of hype outpacing performance. This story also ties into a global trend: the commercialization of sports often outpaces competitive integrity. While India’s cricketing economy thrives, its on-field results lag, mirroring how other sporting powerhouses—from England’s football struggles to America’s underperformance in global soccer despite its MLS riches—struggle to translate financial might into sustained success. The question isn’t just whether India will ever win the World Cup again, but whether a system built for profit can ever prioritize performance.