Cricket in Germany
Cricket in Germany is booming, defying the nation's football-obsessed image. Our author investigates this surprising growth by attending a T20 World Cup qualifier in Krefeld and interviewing the German captain, a Chennai native.
By Saurabh Narang
Imagine being a cricket fan in the 1990-2000s, dreaming of a super team! The cricket lover inside me thought: what if legendary Asian cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar (India), Sourav Ganguly (India), Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka), Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan), and Wasim Akram (Pakistan) all joined forces? Could they topple Australia's World Cup reign?
Growing popularity of Cricket in Germany
Cricket in Germany is growing fast! The number of cricket teams has exploded in recent years, from just 70 to 300+ now. This growth is partly due to immigration from countries where cricket is very popular, like Afghanistan and India.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier, Germany v/s Norway in Krefeld, Germany.
Photograph by Saurabh Narang
Although the overwhelming majority are men, Germany's women's cricket scene is growing, with the national team aiming to attract more homegrown talent and focus on inclusivity could see a stronger national team with a true German flavour.
Visitng Germany v/s Norway
From cricketing jargon like “Yeh aaney wala hai,” to “shabaash,” The Krefeld Cricket Ground in Germany buzzed with anticipation as the national teams of Germany and Norway faced off in a crucial European qualifying match for the 2026 Cricket T20 World Cup. The stands, though not overflowing, held a dedicated crowd eager to witness their team's performance.
Soly comes to support her husband Vinay playing for Norway v/s Germany, in Krefeld, Germany.
Photograph by Saurabh Narang
"Cricket brings people together," says Soly, an Indian expat living in Norway who came to support her husband Vinay playing for Norway. "Even away from home, it creates a community."
Soly isn't alone. Cricket, once a niche sport in Germany, is gaining traction thanks to passionate immigrants like Biji, who found a welcoming club for his son just a year after arriving.
Biji brings her son Gautam for the Norway v/s Germany, in Krefeld, Germany.
Photograph by Saurabh Narang
"We were worried," says Biji, "but luckily we found a club led by the German captain himself!" His son, a talented young player, is now competing in state league matches.
Meeting Venkat - German National Cricket Captain
German cricket captain Venkatraman Ganesan, originally from Chennai, India, shared his journey from dreaming of international cricket to leading Germany to the global qualifiers.
Portrait of Venkatraman Ganesan at Krefeld, Germany.
Photograph by Saurabh Narang
Q1: So, tell us about yourself. Where are you from and how did you end up in Germany playing cricket?
Venkat: I was born in Chennai, south of India and moved to Germany in 2012. I work in the IT field here. Since 2017, I've been representing the German cricket team, and in 2019, I've taken over the captaincy.
Q2: How did you start playing cricket? Did you already play in India, and is there a history of you playing there before coming to Germany and starting again?
Venkat: Yeah, I played for Tamil Nadu at the age group levels, under 14, 16, and 19. I also played in the Tamil Nadu first-division league set-up. Until 2006, I pursued a path to be a professional cricketer. Back then, the first-division league was like the gateway to the Ranji Trophy. But after 2006, I decided to focus on my engineering career. There was no IPL at that time, and I was a student, so I felt I couldn’t pursue cricket as a career path. But then, I moved to Germany for work in 2012. And then, by chance, I found out there was an active club cricket scene here.
Q3: But back in India, you weren't aware of so many cricket clubs in Germany?
Venkat: No, I didn't move to Germany for cricket, but for work. Then, I found out about the active club cricket scene. For the first three years, it was more like a hobby, playing over the weekends. Then, Germany started putting a structure in place, with a domestic competition similar to the Ranji Trophy in India. We had the Super Series with six teams from various regions. This got me interested, and I started representing the Western Eagles from North Rhine-Westphalia. And then I got noticed from there into a German Red versus Gold; they used to call at that point of time, like the India Blue/India Red kind of teams. And there, I scored a hundred in the very first match, and then the coach noticed that and that was my entry into the German team.
Q4: How did it feel to restart your cricket hobby here, considering you once aimed for the Ranji Trophy?
Venkat: To play cricket at this level and then become captain of a nation like Germany, fulfilling a childhood dream of playing International cricket, was indeed a very proud moment for me, my family, and everyone who supported me.
Q5: What's your favourite part about playing for the German national team? Do you have a favourite memory?
Venkat: In 2021, we qualified for the ICC Europe regional finals, which was a pathway to the World Cup. That was a highlight for me as captain, taking Germany to the global qualifiers for the first time. The year after, we had a fantastic experience playing in Oman against teams like Ireland, UAE, and Canada and we ran them close.
Q6: In your professional life, you are in IT. Do you get support from your company to play cricket, unlike some professional cricketers in India who get employed by the Government?
Venkat: Cricket in Germany is not professional yet. There's no full-fledged support system. I'm thankful to my organization for offering Sonderurlaub, which allows around 10 days of paid time off apart from my regular vacation. Not everyone gets this, but I'm grateful for it.
Q7: Did cricket help you integrate into German society, especially considering many cricketers in Germany are refugees from Afghanistan?
Venkat: Cricket isn't necessarily an integration factor for migrants who come for jobs. However, it allows you to connect with the sport you loved back home. In the German team, we have people from diverse cultures, and that's a strength. We bring different styles of play to the table.
Q8: There are around 300 cricket clubs in Germany, but not many German-born cricketers in the men's national team. Why is that?
Venkat: It's a time-consuming process. Ideally, you'd get young people from schools and clubs. In the last couple of years, there has been more focus on youth work, with school tournaments and introductory programs. Cricket is not a familiar sport for Germans, so there's a need for more popularity and campaigning.
Q9: What are some challenges cricketers face in Germany?
V: We're not professionals. Most of us have full-time jobs, sometimes 10-12 hours a day, which makes it difficult to train after work. This is a major challenge compared to bigger teams where players can train more frequently. We have the skills, but consistency in training is difficult. The other challenge is infrastructure. Krefeld is great, but we need similar facilities across the country so players have proper training hubs.
Q10: Do you think cricket will become a full-time profession in Germany?
V: We're a bit far away at the moment. But with cricket becoming an Olympic sport in 2028, The Deutscher Cricket Bund (DCB) is admitted to the Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund (DOSB), and there might be some prospects for performance cricket in the future. It's a slow process that requires more investment, but hopefully, things will move in that direction. We need to if we want players to take cricket seriously as a career option.
Q11: How would you compare India and Germany in cricket?
V: It's like comparing German football to Indian cricket. In India, there's a clear pathway for cricketers, which is what we need in Germany to have a realistic chance of qualifying for World Cups.
Q12: How do you see the importance of cricket in Germany?
V: Cricket is the second most popular sport globally, with a huge market. From a business perspective, it could be a good addition to the German sports scene. T20 is the format that will attract fans, so we need to develop pathways and infrastructure for this format.
Q13: And what are your future plans related to cricket?
V: No specifics at the moment. I do have some coaching qualifications (ECB Level 2). I coach the kids at my club, the Düsseldorf Blackcaps. Playing cricket already takes a lot of time, so I don't have anything specific planned for the future.
Nailbiting last over match
Post-match ceremony where Fayaz Khan Nasseri gets the players of the match for his allround performance of 5/19 (4) and 64 (35) for Norway v/s Germany, in Krefeld, Germany.
Photograph by Saurabh Narang
In a nail-biting finish that had everyone on the edge of their seats, Norway emerged victorious against Germany by a mere 11 runs! Chasing a target of 162 Germany, fell short by 11 runs while Norway's bowlers held their nerve to clinch the win in the final over.
Though my dream team of cricket legends remained a fantasy and such a mix is impossible beyond the Indian Premier League but seeing cricketers from different cultural backgrounds forming the German National Cricket Team where I expected it the least was a memorable experience and something to be followed over the years.
PS: The German Cricket Association has a dedicated webpage for all their updates.
(Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and to keep the story concise.)
Cricket in Germany is booming, defying the nation's football-obsessed image. Our author investigates this surprising growth by attending a T20 World Cup qualifier in Krefeld and interviewing the German captain, a Chennai native.
By Saurabh Narang
Imagine being a cricket fan in the 1990-2000s, dreaming of a super team! The cricket lover inside me thought: what if legendary Asian cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar (India), Sourav Ganguly (India), Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka), Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan), and Wasim Akram (Pakistan) all joined forces? Could they topple Australia's World Cup reign?
Growing popularity of Cricket in Germany
Cricket in Germany is growing fast! The number of cricket teams has exploded in recent years, from just 70 to 300+ now. This growth is partly due to immigration from countries where cricket is very popular, like Afghanistan and India.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier, Germany v/s Norway in Krefeld, Germany.
Photograph by Saurabh Narang
Although the overwhelming majority are men, Germany's women's cricket scene is growing, with the national team aiming to attract more homegrown talent and focus on inclusivity could see a stronger national team with a true German flavour.
Visitng Germany v/s Norway
From cricketing jargon like “Yeh aaney wala hai,” to “shabaash,” The Krefeld Cricket Ground in Germany buzzed with anticipation as the national teams of Germany and Norway faced off in a crucial European qualifying match for the 2026 Cricket T20 World Cup. The stands, though not overflowing, held a dedicated crowd eager to witness their team's performance.
Soly comes to support her husband Vinay playing for Norway v/s Germany, in Krefeld, Germany.
Photograph by Saurabh Narang
"Cricket brings people together," says Soly, an Indian expat living in Norway who came to support her husband Vinay playing for Norway. "Even away from home, it creates a community."
Soly isn't alone. Cricket, once a niche sport in Germany, is gaining traction thanks to passionate immigrants like Biji, who found a welcoming club for his son just a year after arriving.
Biji brings her son Gautam for the Norway v/s Germany, in Krefeld, Germany.
Photograph by Saurabh Narang
"We were worried," says Biji, "but luckily we found a club led by the German captain himself!" His son, a talented young player, is now competing in state league matches.
Meeting Venkat - German National Cricket Captain
German cricket captain Venkatraman Ganesan, originally from Chennai, India, shared his journey from dreaming of international cricket to leading Germany to the global qualifiers.
Portrait of Venkatraman Ganesan at Krefeld, Germany.
Photograph by Saurabh Narang
Q1: So, tell us about yourself. Where are you from and how did you end up in Germany playing cricket?
Venkat: I was born in Chennai, south of India and moved to Germany in 2012. I work in the IT field here. Since 2017, I've been representing the German cricket team, and in 2019, I've taken over the captaincy.
Q2: How did you start playing cricket? Did you already play in India, and is there a history of you playing there before coming to Germany and starting again?
Venkat: Yeah, I played for Tamil Nadu at the age group levels, under 14, 16, and 19. I also played in the Tamil Nadu first-division league set-up. Until 2006, I pursued a path to be a professional cricketer. Back then, the first-division league was like the gateway to the Ranji Trophy. But after 2006, I decided to focus on my engineering career. There was no IPL at that time, and I was a student, so I felt I couldn’t pursue cricket as a career path. But then, I moved to Germany for work in 2012. And then, by chance, I found out there was an active club cricket scene here.
Q3: But back in India, you weren't aware of so many cricket clubs in Germany?
Venkat: No, I didn't move to Germany for cricket, but for work. Then, I found out about the active club cricket scene. For the first three years, it was more like a hobby, playing over the weekends. Then, Germany started putting a structure in place, with a domestic competition similar to the Ranji Trophy in India. We had the Super Series with six teams from various regions. This got me interested, and I started representing the Western Eagles from North Rhine-Westphalia. And then I got noticed from there into a German Red versus Gold; they used to call at that point of time, like the India Blue/India Red kind of teams. And there, I scored a hundred in the very first match, and then the coach noticed that and that was my entry into the German team.
Q4: How did it feel to restart your cricket hobby here, considering you once aimed for the Ranji Trophy?
Venkat: To play cricket at this level and then become captain of a nation like Germany, fulfilling a childhood dream of playing International cricket, was indeed a very proud moment for me, my family, and everyone who supported me.
Q5: What's your favourite part about playing for the German national team? Do you have a favourite memory?
Venkat: In 2021, we qualified for the ICC Europe regional finals, which was a pathway to the World Cup. That was a highlight for me as captain, taking Germany to the global qualifiers for the first time. The year after, we had a fantastic experience playing in Oman against teams like Ireland, UAE, and Canada and we ran them close.
Q6: In your professional life, you are in IT. Do you get support from your company to play cricket, unlike some professional cricketers in India who get employed by the Government?
Venkat: Cricket in Germany is not professional yet. There's no full-fledged support system. I'm thankful to my organization for offering Sonderurlaub, which allows around 10 days of paid time off apart from my regular vacation. Not everyone gets this, but I'm grateful for it.
Q7: Did cricket help you integrate into German society, especially considering many cricketers in Germany are refugees from Afghanistan?
Venkat: Cricket isn't necessarily an integration factor for migrants who come for jobs. However, it allows you to connect with the sport you loved back home. In the German team, we have people from diverse cultures, and that's a strength. We bring different styles of play to the table.
Q8: There are around 300 cricket clubs in Germany, but not many German-born cricketers in the men's national team. Why is that?
Venkat: It's a time-consuming process. Ideally, you'd get young people from schools and clubs. In the last couple of years, there has been more focus on youth work, with school tournaments and introductory programs. Cricket is not a familiar sport for Germans, so there's a need for more popularity and campaigning.
Q9: What are some challenges cricketers face in Germany?
V: We're not professionals. Most of us have full-time jobs, sometimes 10-12 hours a day, which makes it difficult to train after work. This is a major challenge compared to bigger teams where players can train more frequently. We have the skills, but consistency in training is difficult. The other challenge is infrastructure. Krefeld is great, but we need similar facilities across the country so players have proper training hubs.
Q10: Do you think cricket will become a full-time profession in Germany?
V: We're a bit far away at the moment. But with cricket becoming an Olympic sport in 2028, The Deutscher Cricket Bund (DCB) is admitted to the Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund (DOSB), and there might be some prospects for performance cricket in the future. It's a slow process that requires more investment, but hopefully, things will move in that direction. We need to if we want players to take cricket seriously as a career option.
Q11: How would you compare India and Germany in cricket?
V: It's like comparing German football to Indian cricket. In India, there's a clear pathway for cricketers, which is what we need in Germany to have a realistic chance of qualifying for World Cups.
Q12: How do you see the importance of cricket in Germany?
V: Cricket is the second most popular sport globally, with a huge market. From a business perspective, it could be a good addition to the German sports scene. T20 is the format that will attract fans, so we need to develop pathways and infrastructure for this format.
Q13: And what are your future plans related to cricket?
V: No specifics at the moment. I do have some coaching qualifications (ECB Level 2). I coach the kids at my club, the Düsseldorf Blackcaps. Playing cricket already takes a lot of time, so I don't have anything specific planned for the future.
Nailbiting last over match
Post-match ceremony where Fayaz Khan Nasseri gets the players of the match for his allround performance of 5/19 (4) and 64 (35) for Norway v/s Germany, in Krefeld, Germany.
Photograph by Saurabh Narang
In a nail-biting finish that had everyone on the edge of their seats, Norway emerged victorious against Germany by a mere 11 runs! Chasing a target of 162 Germany, fell short by 11 runs while Norway's bowlers held their nerve to clinch the win in the final over.
Though my dream team of cricket legends remained a fantasy and such a mix is impossible beyond the Indian Premier League but seeing cricketers from different cultural backgrounds forming the German National Cricket Team where I expected it the least was a memorable experience and something to be followed over the years.
PS: The German Cricket Association has a dedicated webpage for all their updates.
(Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and to keep the story concise.)