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When Bhuvan compared cricket to gilli danda in Lagaan, many laughed. But cricket was indeed referred to as gilli danda in India in the lat e nineteenth century. When, in 1893, the villagers of Champaner played cricket in their dhotis they presented a very incongruous picture to the contemporary viewer. Even as late as 1931, Indians donned dhotis to assert their national identity when playing against the English. Replete with accounts of such fascinating stories, anecdotes, and information from primary sources, this book is a must read for cricket enthusiasts. Indian cricket is, however, more than the sum of its lore. In contemporary India, it encompasses many dimensions of experience involving politics, gender, religion, and class. This Reader sets out to explore the unique bond between cricket and the Indian nation, now more than a century-and-a half old. Many interesting facts and anecdotes find place in this volume
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