Chapter 1. Birth of Cricket in Mumbai

India on the eve of colonization

        After the death of Aurangzeb, the Mughal empire started to decline. Maratha empire became stronger & also on the same time British trade settlements started in India. They mainly focused on coastal regions of India & started trading from sea route. Thus Mumbai became an important trade center for Britishers. 

Introduction of the game      

         British merchants use to play Cricket as an recreational activity. When merchants metamorphosed into rulers, they continued to demonstrate their recreational persuits in India. First recorded cricket match on Indian soil was played between British Soldiers & English settlers in the year 1751.

Adoption by Locals

          The locals who watch the game became curious about it. Parsi community was the wealthiest community in Mumbai at that time. They were the first civilian community to take up Cricket in Mumbai. They established Orientalist Cricket Club in Mumbai in 1848 which did not survived for long and had premature death in just 2 years. However Parsis then established Young Zorastrians club in 1850. After the Parsis, Hindus also established their own club in Mumbai in 1866.

Distinction between Locals & Britishers

           The scene of the cricketing activities of the Mumbai locals was the Esplanade 'maidan,' which was situated in front of the western ramparts of the erstwhile Bombay 'Fort' which was demolished in 1860. At the far end of this 'maidan' was a plot of land that was out of bounds for dogs and Indians - the Bombay Gymkhana.