Cricket is the most popular sport in the city (and the country). Due to a shortage of grounds, various modified versions (generically referred to as galli cricket) are played everywhere. Mumbai is home to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).[308] The Mumbai cricket team represents the city in the Ranji Trophy and has won 38 titles, the most by any team.[309] The city is also represented by the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League and by the Mumbai Champs in the Indian Cricket League. The city has two international cricket grounds, the Wankhede Stadium and the Brabourne Stadium.[310] The biggest cricketing event to be staged in the city so far was the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy final which was played at the Brabourne Stadium.[311] Eminent cricketers from Mumbai include Sachin Tendulkar[312] and Sunil Gavaskar.[313]
Football (soccer) is one of the other popular sports in the city, with the FIFA World Cup and the English Premier League being followed widely.[314] In the I-League, Mumbai is represented by three teams, Mumbai FC,[315] Mahindra United[316] and Air-India.[317] Field hockey has declined in popularity, due to the rise of cricket. Mumbai is home to the Maratha Warriors, the only team from Maharashtra competing in the Premier Hockey League (PHL).[318] Every February, Mumbai holds derby races at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse. Mcdowell's Derby is also held in February at the Turf club in Mumbai.[319] Interest in Formula One racing has been rising in recent years,[320] and in 2008, the Force India F1 team car was unveiled in Mumbai.[321] In March 2004, the Mumbai Grand Prix was part of the F1 powerboat world championship.[322] In 2004, the annual Mumbai Marathon was established in a bid to bring the sports discipline to the Indian public.[323] Since 2006, Mumbai has also played host to the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open, an International Series tournament of the ATP World Tour.[324]
