Indian experienced commentator Harsha Bhogle opened up on how the increasing political influence in cricket has faded away the commercial success of the sport.
Speaking about the India vs Pakistan clashes, the 64-year-old accepted the fact that the excitement for the high-octane rivalry is no more. Earlier, the hype surrounded to a great extent ahead of the match.
Due to the increasing political tensions, the essence of the prestigious rivalry has certainly taken an unexpected change.
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‘Not Excited with IND vs PAK Match’: Bhogle
Speaking on his YouTube Channel, Harsha Bhogle admitted that he is no longer excited about the India-Pakistan rivalry:
“No! If this could be the right thing to say, I really don’t know. But the truth here is that I don’t get excited by this India-Pakistan match. You might feel shocked and ask Oh, really?
I’ll speak honestly and say that I have seen so many matches. There is a slight feeling in the gut of your belly to understand what is likely to happen.
At one point, your hopes suddenly surged, and they were dropped. In other words, your emotions get dropped from the rejoicing moment to the terrible feeling every ball-by-ball.
Assume you went on an emotional roller coaster ride, and you wonder what would happen as you sat on the edge of your seat. Suddenly, you wonder what would happen, and by predicting the result, you would move on. This is a similar case of Indo-Pak matches as well,” Bhogle said.
IND-PAK matches: Treated Like a Political Weapon? Bhogle’s Opinion
According to Harsha Bhogle, the India vs Pakistan rivalry was always filled with tensions. Despite the toughest moments, the contest was purely limited to on-field battle, adhering to the emotions of the sport.
But the veteran commentator believed that the proper balance has now become extinct. Which means that complications are added to the rivalry, making it no longer just a cricket match. Here is what Bhogle said:
“Yeah! I need to admit that although it wasn’t easy. But we had to move on, and this was the time I feared the most about our beloved game.
Our beloved game has now become a weapon for political point-scoring, which is being held as a hostage and used for a political and economic agenda,” Bhogle added.
India-Pakistan Match More About Cricket and Politics
Harsha Bhogle openly pointed out that the IND vs PAK rivalry in recent times has become more about cricket and politics.
He specifically mentioned that the flashy advertising campaigns added with controversial on-field gestures resembling wai make the contest no longer related to sports. Here is what the seasoned broadcaster conveyed:
“Certainly! The concerns over geopolitical tensions continue to prevail in this sport as well. The heavy influence of politics and money is clearly evident.
Instead of playing cricket, the political points are to be scored with vivid advertisement campaigns that evoke emotions in all fans. The war-like gestures indicate that the sport is purely about politics and the economy.
Moreover, the game won’t be enjoyed by us anymore, as it has already been exploited for bigger political agendas. This is the harsh reality of India vs Pakistan matches in the modern era,” Bhogle commented.
From Greatest to One-Sided Rivalry in World Cups
Apart from the growing influence of politics on cricket, another reason for the diminished interest on India vs Pakistan rivalry is because of too much one-sided domination.
In the ODI World Cup, India maintained an unbeaten track record against Pakistan. Considering the track record in the T20 World Cup, the men-in-blue extended their winning streak to 8-1 against their rivals out of 9 matches played so far.
To explain in simpler terms, the outcome of India-Pakistan matches in high-profile tournaments has become highly predictable, making it the most underwhelming rivalry.
Overall Verdict: India-Pakistan Relationship Becomes Worse in Cricket
Starting from the no-handshake policy to the recent boycott threats in the T20 World Cup 2026, the involvement of India and Pakistan in controversial incidents has left a severe negative impact on cricket.
Here is a brief timeline of the deteriorating cricket relationship between these two nations following the Pahalgam terror attacks last year:
- September 14 (Asia Cup 2025 group stage): No handshake either during the toss or post-match interaction.
- September 17 (Asia Cup 2025 group stage): Pakistan’s threat to boycott its match against the UAE. A protest was carried out against match referee Andy Pycroft.
- September 21 (Asia Cup 2025 Super Fours): Heated exchange of words between the players on the field.
- September 28 (Asia Cup 2025 Final): India refused to take over the trophy from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), as well.
- October 05 (Women’s ODI World Cup): Following the example set by the male counterparts, the Indian women’s team followed the no-handshake policy.
- November 04: ICC takes strict action against Indian and Pakistani players for breaching the code of conduct.
- January 25: Pakistan threatened to boycott its participation in the entire T20 World Cup 2026 tournament following Bangladesh’s exit.
- February 01: The Pakistan government announced a boycott of its group stage match against India.
- February 09: Pakistan finally reversed its boycott decision after an emergency meeting was organized to resolve the issue.
