In a country where cricket is often called a religion, the North-East reads from a different book. While Virat Kohli’s cover drives echo across the subcontinent, in the seven sisters and Sikkim, it’s football that fills the air. The result? Players like Riyan Parag feel like rare exports, rather than the norm. But it isn’t about talent. It never was.
1. Geography, Terrain, and Accessibility
North-East India is a region of beautiful, rugged landscapes—mountains, valleys, and remote towns. It’s a logistical challenge for cricket infrastructure.
Cricket demands flat land, well-maintained turf pitches, and large grounds.
In contrast, football thrives on smaller fields, lower setup costs, and can be played in tighter communities.
So while Guwahati may boast Assam Cricket Association Stadium, smaller towns in Mizoram or Arunachal lack basic cricketing infrastructure.
“There was no academy near me,” said a former youth cricketer from Meghalaya. “If I wanted to train seriously, I had to move to Guwahati or Kolkata. That wasn’t always possible.”
2. The Cultural DNA: Football as a Way of Life
From Shillong’s packed stadiums to street matches in Aizawl, football isn’t just a sport—it’s a pulse in the North-East.
Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland have deeply rooted football ecosystems, with state leagues, youth academies, and scouting networks.
Players like Jeje Lalpekhlua, Jackichand Singh, and Udanta Singh inspired the next generation—not Sachin or Dhoni.
Cricket, in contrast, feels imported. It lacks cultural resonance and generational nostalgia in many of these states.
3. Unequal Infrastructure and BCCI Investment
For decades, cricket boards in India prioritized traditional powerhouses—Mumbai, Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu.
Until recently, most North-East states didn’t even compete in the Ranji Trophy.
In 2018–19, the BCCI finally included all North-East states in domestic competitions—but many teams lacked home grounds, proper coaching, or match experience.
“We were sent to play against seasoned teams with no match experience ourselves,” a Nagaland cricketer once told ESPNcricinfo. “We weren’t just underdogs. We were underprepared.”
4. Lack of Role Models and Representation
Representation matters. It creates belief.
India has thousands of domestic cricketers, but only a handful from the North-East have cracked the top tier. The biggest name? Riyan Parag from Assam.
Others—like Abu Nechim Ahmed or Rahul Hazarika—show promise but haven’t quite broken through to the national spotlight.
The result: fewer kids see themselves on TV in whites or IPL jerseys.
5. The Cricket Industrial Complex
Cricket in India is often a privilege—structured around:
Club cricket,
Private coaching,
Travel to metro cities for exposure,
And access to selectors or scouts.
For North-East players, breaking in means moving away—socially, linguistically, financially. It’s a harder ladder to climb, with fewer rungs available at home.
So Why Do Some Make It?
When a Riyan Parag emerges, it’s not just because he’s talented. It’s because:
He had access to elite coaching (his father played Ranji),
He was scouted early,
He had exposure in age-group cricket with Assam and India U19,
And he got an early IPL chance.
Riyan’s story is the exception—not the system
The Tide Is Slowly Turning
There’s some hope:
The BCCI has launched infrastructure grants for North-East states.
More cricket academies are opening in Guwahati, Imphal, and Shillong.
Girls’ cricket is rising too—especially in Assam and Meghalaya.
In 2024, Mizoram’s women’s team upset established sides in domestic one-day tournaments.
But it will take time, patience, and investment in belief.
What It All Comes Down To
The North-East doesn’t lack sporting talent. It lacks equal footing in a cricketing system designed far from its hills.
Until cricket feels local, until it can be played on a school field in Kohima or a college ground in Imphal without feeling foreign, it will remain a borrowed sport. A game watched on TV. Not played in barefoot joy.
And maybe, that’s the real story—not why the North-East doesn’t produce cricketers, but how the game hasn’t earned its place in the hearts of the people yet.
Vibhor Gautam 
Sagnik Banerjee