BCCI’s role in improving English of Indian cricketers

Last updated:February 19, 2025, 09:50 IST

Cricketers in the Indian cricket team have been coming from small villages and towns for the last few years. He does not know English and is afraid of speaking it, but as soon as he comes to the team, he starts speaking it with Farratte.

90 percent of India’s cricketers now come from small villages-towns and cities. Their background or atmosphere is such that they are walking in English. Speaking of it is the most afraid of them. They are also able to speak hardly English, but shortly after coming to the Indian cricket team, they start speaking to all the fur. After all, which magic wand is rotated in front of them that the English from which they were still afraid, become experts in speaking.

When everyone hears them speaking English like this, he is surprised. They are usually from such houses in which the question of speaking English does not arise. English is their biggest weakness. If you leave the cricketers coming to Team India from Mumbai, Delhi and South India, then this is the story of most cricketers.

Former captain of the Indian team Kapil Dev was the first cricketer to tell that when he came in the team, he could not speak English. Then he improved his English by keeping the tutor. After that, the way he speaks English now, he does not seem to ever scare it.

By the way, this is the situation from Dhoni and Virat Kohli to Cheteshwar Pujara, who was a part of Team India. Mohammed Shami or Prithvi Shaw was foot in English. The current team is also no different.

When all these players used to come in front of the media, then in this way, they used to speak English with Confidence and Farrate that they never felt that they were weak in it at one time.

During the matches, now when commentators take their reactions, without hesitation, in such a way, in English, there is a fluent in English that no one has any idea that he was very tight in this language at the beginning of a career. He was hesitant to speak English.

When Kapil Dev came in the team
When Kapil Dev came into the Indian cricket team, he had to face the hesitation of English while talking to the media in international tours for a long time. Then he had put a private tutor for this.

Till two and a half decades ago, the English language was a big boost for cricketers coming to the national team from small cities or minor backgrounds. He felt the biggest fear of how he would face the press conference. But now this does not happen.

Umesh Yadav and Hardik Pandya could not speak English
When cricketers like Umesh Yadav and Hardik Pandya were selected in Team India, they were so afraid of English that they used to talk to the press conference and reporters that they should not ask questions in English anywhere. Recently, people were surprised at how Yajuvendra Chahal has started speaking such a good English.

All such cricketers came in the current Indian cricket team or the last 10-15 years of Indian team who are not even tenth, but now when they speak the furious English, it is surprising how it happened. What is the secret behind this?

Not only this, there will be very few cricketers in Team India, who are also graduates. Most leave their studies in the middle while high school or intermittently.

BCCI teaches English language
Actually, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been paying special attention to this aspect for the last few years. He organizes the personality development and English spicking session of all such cricketers. They are also provided coaches for this tours. Also, it is helped in improving English speaking through phone.

BCCI’s special attention
The BCCI pays special attention that the cricketers who are being selected in Team India can not only speak English but also have a personality development.

The BCCI believes that Indian cricketers have to meet people in foreign tours in addition to media briefing, have to participate in many ceremonies, so English language proficiency will further improve its personality and confidence.

When MS Dhoni initially came to the team, he also had problems in speaking English but soon he removed it.

Even Dhoni could not speak English
When Mahendra Singh Dhoni came to the team initially, he had the same problem with him, but then he improved his English through fellow players.

Cricketers like Virender Sehwag and Praveen Kumar used to avoid going to the press conference for a long time and even if they responded, they used to give in Hindi and the BCCI’s interpreter or manager used to tell them what has been asked in the question. Praveen Kumar often put Rahul Dravid forward in exchange for himself.

BCCI also teaches English to umpires
The BCCI has started the English language program not only for cricketers but also for Indian umpires so that their level of interaction in English language can be improved, they can interact with international players. For the first time, the BCCI started such a course for the umpires in the year 2015.

What is in that course
The course started by the BCCI to teach English to the umpires was five days, in which the umpires were divided into several batches. This course was prepared by the BCCI with the help of the British Council with the International Cricket Council.