For over 25 years, Bharat Army has been central to the Indian cricket fandom, uniting supporters across the globe under one banner.Recognised as India’s official supporters’ group and acknowledged by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Bharat Army has built a global community that takes dedicated supporters of the men’s national team across the world supporting them in international tournaments and beyond.The latest men’s T20I series against England was an example of the same, as the 1,60,000-members strong group put up a show demonstrating India’s love for cricket in large numbers.
The forthcoming Champions Trophy, where India will be playing their games in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) presents a unique challenge to the Bharat Army supporters. Cricket in the UAE has seen an arguably immediate sprout in excitement with a spate of Asia Cups along with franchise T20 leagues getting hosted in the country. However, with the Men in Blue playing a big-ticket ICC tournament there, Bharat Army too are all geared up for the opportunity to broaden their horizons.Also Read: Sanju Samson fractures index finger, out of action for five to six weeksCo-founder Rakesh Patel acknowledges this shift, stating, “Only recently have we begun to see big tournaments there. Now, we are seeing more series and tournaments happening, and the Bharat Army has a big presence from a fan perspective.”“With a strong following in the UAE, Bharat Army members are often seen filling stadiums with Indian colours, chants, and support. Many fans also travel from different parts of the world to support Team India, further reiterating our role as a global cricketing community,” he added.
However, cricket’s appeal has transformed over the years, moving beyond the conventional Test cricket audience to a more diverse fan base. While T20 cricket has attracted a younger audience, Test cricket continues to thrive due to the rise of engaging players and competitive teams, according to Patel.“Back in the days, we didn’t have too many personalities in Test match cricket. Now, teams perform well across formats, and fans are aligned to that,” he explains. “There’s a lot more interest now because of fascinating characters and personalities, which attracts more audiences than before.”However, though cricket remains at the core of Bharat Army, their support extends beyond the sport. Patel highlights how their reach has expanded into other sports, aligning with the larger Indian sporting movement.“Our objective is to create the largest community for cricket in the world. But people in India follow other sports as well. While we have created the Bharat Army for cricketing purposes, we have supporters who back our national teams in other sports too,” he says.This diversification has allowed Bharat Army to evolve into a larger sporting community, bringing Indian fans together for a range of international events.Bharat Army’s success over the past 25 years is deeply rooted in building a strong community of fans worldwide. This effort requires significant logistical coordination, particularly in regions like Australia, where the group has developed its network over the past decade.“For the last 25 years, what we have done is built a community around the world. In Australia, it’s a project we have built for 10 years where we have identified people for the initiative,” Patel says. “A lot of logistical work goes behind developing people for this community, for which you need to build experiences with people traveling from all across the world.”As India’s official cricket supporters’ group, Bharat Army continues to bridge the gap between fans and the game, creating an experience that goes beyond just watching matches. They have also lately become the official ticketing partner of the ICC, enabling cricket experiences during major tournaments through their travel vertical.Whether in India, the UAE, Australia, or anywhere else in the world, their support ensures that Team India is never short of passionate voices backing them from the stands.
