Today India is the No.1 Cricket Team in the World, and also have the richest Cricket board, but it also has one of the strongest teams which is on the cusp of winning its third men's ODI Cricket World Cup.

However, after Independence in 1947, Indian cricket was in the doldrums as it faced the threat of losing membership of the global cricket governing body.

Then, what saved Indian cricket?

A political decision taken by first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru ensured that Indian cricket remained part of the Imperial Cricket Conference, now known as the International Cricket Council (ICC), as reported by IndiaToday.

Nehru's decision to keep India in the British Commonwealth drew him a lot of flak from his party members. Though it had its political ramifications, the decision turned out to be a significant one for Indian cricket, ensuring that the country remained part of the global cricketing body, which was then under the patronage of the British monarchy.

In September 1953, a two-day charity cricket match was organised in Delhi between the Prime Minister’s XI and Vice-President’s XI. The funds raised from the match was to aid the flood victims of Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Jawaharlal Nehru not only captained the Prime Minister’s XI but also did the commentary for the match. Though the match ended in a draw, Nehru, who picked up the bat after 40 years, played like a professional player, according to a BBC report.

Mihir Bose notes in his book that when, on July 19, 1948, the Imperial Cricket Conference (ICC) met at Lord’s, it was decided that India would remain a member of the ICC but only on a provisional basis. The matter of India's ICC membership would then be revised after two years.

Rule 5 of the ICC stated that membership of a country would end if it was not a member of the British Commonwealth.

When the ICC met next in June 1950, India had adopted its Constitution but also remained a member of the Commonwealth, without the British monarchy wielding any power over the government. Reassured by India's Commonwealth membership, the ICC made India a permanent member.