Ratan Tata's passion for cricket: Indian cricket stars who were once part of the TATA Group

New Delhi: Ratan Tata, a revered figure in India's business world and former chairman of Tata Sons, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 86. With a population of over 1.4 billion people, he was one of the most respected businessmen in the country. Ratan Tata was not just a successful industrialist, but also a generous philanthropist whose impact on India's economy cannot be overstated. Despite his global recognition, he remained humble and grounded, making him a beloved figure among the masses.

Ratan Tata was also known for his love and affection towards sports, particularly cricket. The legacy of Sir Ratan Tata left behind is far beyond the boardroom as the former chairman of Tata Sons played a pivotal role in supporting Indian cricket and its players. Many of India’s greatest cricketers owe a part of their journey to Tata Group’s backing.

The TATA Group’s link with Indian Cricketers:

In these many years, we all know Ratan Tata has various companies under the Tata Group umbrella. These companies have been flexible in providing Indian cricketers with jobs, financial support and opportunities to create a perfect state of mind in cricketer’s life regarding sporting and professional careers. Players from long ages and across generations have benefited from the Tata Group’s commitment to reading the sporting talent, particularly to those who represent the country at the highest levels.

Several famous cricketers were directly associated with Tata Group companies. For example, Farokh Engineer was supported by Tata Motors, while Air India played a key role in the careers of players like Mohinder Amarnath, Sanjay Manjrekar, Robin Uthappa, and VVS Laxman. Indian Airlines, also linked to the Tata Group, became a platform for numerous players, including Javagal Srinath, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Mohammed Kaif.

It is worth mentioning that cricketers like Ajit Agarkar (Tata Steel) and Rusi Surti (IHCL, or Indian Hotels Company Limited) were also part of the Tata ecosystem. More recently, players like Shardul Thakur (Tata Power) and Jayant Yadav (Air India) have benefited from Tata Group’s long-standing support of cricket.