India sports economy is entering a transformative decade, with projections showing remarkable sports growth in India that will more than double from $30 billion in 2023 to $70 billion by 2030, according to a comprehensive sports industry forecast by Deloitte. This exponential expansion positions India at an unprecedented inflection point in global sports markets, outpacing established economies like Brazil ($6-8 billion) and approaching the UK’s advanced market size of $40 billion.
The India sports economy transformation represents one of the most significant sports growth narratives in India, driven by digital revolution, expanding multi-sport fandom, and strategic government investments across infrastructure development. This sports industry forecast indicates that India’s sports sector currently contributes approximately 0.9% to the country’s GDP, matching several top sporting nations while demonstrating immense potential for further expansion through 2030.
Digital Revolution Fueling Sports Growth in India
The sports growth in India is primarily accelerated by unprecedented digital adoption, with 695 million smartphone users and 800 million internet users consuming sports content at record levels. The India sports economy benefits from the world’s lowest data prices, enabling widespread access to live streaming, interactive content, and fantasy sports platforms that have revolutionised fan engagement across demographics.
JioStar CEO Ishan Chatterjee emphasised that during the last IPL season alone, they illuminated over 1.1 billion screens across television and digital platforms, demonstrating the massive scale of sports growth in India. This digital transformation supports the sports industry forecast by creating new revenue streams through personalised viewing experiences, multi-camera angles, and AI-driven content delivery that caters to both core fans seeking detailed statistics and casual viewers preferring entertainment-focused content.
Beyond Cricket: Diversification Driving Sports Industry Forecast
While cricket remains the engine of India’s sports economy, the most significant sports growth in India is emerging from diversification into tennis, football, kabaddi, and e-sports. The sports industry forecast highlights that 90% of Indian sports fans now follow multiple sports, with kabaddi commanding 120 million fans and football attracting 85 million enthusiasts beyond cricket’s traditional dominance.
The success of athletes like Neeraj Chopra in javelin has demonstrated how world-class Indian performances in non-cricket sports can rapidly accelerate fandom and create new market opportunities within the India sports economy. This diversification trend supports the sports industry forecast by expanding the addressable market beyond cricket’s seasonal cycles to year-round sports consumption across multiple disciplines.
Infrastructure Investment Boosting Sports Growth in India
Government initiatives play a crucial role in the sports industry forecast, with sports budgets increasing 1.6 times from $260 million to $405 million over the past four years. The National Infrastructure Pipeline includes sports projects worth $2.4 billion, creating foundational infrastructure that supports sustained sports growth in India across grassroots development and elite performance facilities.
The India sports economy expansion is further supported by private sector investments in professional leagues, with the Indian Premier League, Indian Super League, and Pro Kabaddi League generating massive viewership, sponsorship revenues, and broadcasting rights that collectively contribute billions to the overall sports industry forecast projections.
Manufacturing and Export Growth Supporting Sports Economy
The sports growth in India extends beyond consumption to manufacturing excellence, with sports goods exports reaching $497.3 million in the first ten months of FY25 and projected to surge to $660 million by FY26. Major production hubs in Jalandhar, Punjab, and Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, account for 75-80% of total production, while emerging manufacturing centres in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and West Bengal focus on specialised segments.
India exports approximately 60% of its sporting goods, reflecting strong global demand and local manufacturing capabilities that contribute significantly to the India sports economy. This manufacturing strength supports the sports industry forecast by creating employment opportunities and establishing India as a reliable supplier for international sports markets.
Technology Integration Transforming Fan Experience
The sports industry forecast emphasises technology’s role in personalising fan experiences, with innovations including multi-camera viewing, vertical formats for mobile consumption, and AI-driven highlight generation. The India sports economy is leveraging these technological advances to create completely personalised viewing experiences where two people watching the same match can have entirely different camera angles, commentary, and interactive features.
Fantasy sports platforms and digital engagement tools are creating new monetisation opportunities within the sports growth in India ecosystem, with companies investing heavily in data analytics, viewer personalisation, and immersive content delivery that enhances fan loyalty and spending.
Women’s Sports Driving Inclusive Growth
Inclusivity, particularly in women’s cricket through the Women’s Premier League (WPL), represents a significant opportunity within the India sports economy expansion. Broadcasting platforms are prioritising women’s sports with prime-time slots and enhanced storytelling to inspire the next generation while expanding the addressable fan base for sustained sports growth in India.
The sports industry forecast recognises women’s sports as a high-growth segment with substantial untapped potential, supported by increasing participation rates, improved infrastructure, and dedicated media coverage that creates new revenue streams and sponsorship opportunities.
Employment and Economic Multiplier Effects
The sports industry forecast projects the creation of up to 10.5 million jobs by 2030, with $21 billion in indirect tax revenue generated through the expanded India sports economy. The sports sector’s strong connections with media, telecommunications, education, real estate, and tourism create significant multiplier effects that amplify the economic impact beyond direct sports-related activities.
This employment generation supports the broader sports growth in India narrative by creating sustainable career opportunities across coaching, sports management, broadcasting, event management, hospitality, and sports science sectors that collectively strengthen the industry’s foundation for continued expansion toward the $70 billion target by 2030.
