For decades, the sporting narrative in India was a monologue written by cricket. But walk onto the manicured fairways of the DLF Golf and Country Club today, and you’ll see the early chapters of a new story.
At the center of this shift is a man who once conquered the world with a cherry-red leather ball: Kapil Dev.
The 1983 World Cup-winning captain isn’t just “playing” golf in his retirement; he has become its most influential architect. Kapil Dev, the famous cricket World Cup winner, is now leading India’s professional golf tour (PGTI) as President. He’s using his big name to make golf popular and serious not just a rich people’s hobby.
The “Kapil Effect”: Driving Growth Through Legitimacy:
The “Kapil Effect” like his winning spirit in cricket is helping golf grow by making it feel real and fair:
More prize money: He’s increased the total prizes a lot up to around ₹33 crore (or even higher in some reports) in 2025. This means pro golfers can earn a proper living instead of struggling.
World connections: He helped create a strong tie-up with the DP World Tour (European golf’s big league). This gives talented Indian players a clear path to compete in Europe and maybe even the PGA Tour.
Mixed gender event: In April 2025, he launched the Kapil Dev-Grant Thornton Invitational India’s first big pro tournament where men and women played together for the same prize pool (₹2 crore). It was a historic step for equality, letting top women golfers shine alongside men.
Kapil is turning Indian golf from something small and exclusive into a real career option with bigger money, global chances, and fairer opportunities for everyone!
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Kapil Dev isn’t the only one swapping his pads for putters. A wave of cricket icons is providing the much-needed “cool factor” to the greens, making the sport aspirational for a younger generation.
“In golf, making a hundred means you’re not quite at your best.” Sunil Gavaskar, jokingly discussing the scoring difference with Kapil Dev.
| Legend | Role in Golf |
| Kapil Dev | President of PGTI; Tournament Founder |
| Yuvraj Singh | Co-owner & Ambassador, Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) |
| MS Dhoni | Honorary Member at multiple clubs; avid amateur competitor |
| Sachin Tendulkar | Frequent player and promoter of “grassroots” golf initiatives |
When Yuvraj Singh joined the IGPL in late 2025, he brought a massive digital following with him. Suddenly, teenagers who only watched T20 cricket were seeing their hero talk about “birdies” and “backswings.” This cross-pollination is essential for a sport that previously struggled with media visibility.
It’s a natural transition. Cricket and golf share a fundamental DNA: hand-eye coordination, timing, and mental endurance.
For legends like Ajit Agarkar (who has represented India in corporate golf) or Jasprit Bumrah (the face of the 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI campaign), the sport offers a competitive outlet that is easier on the joints but just as taxing on the brain. Their involvement is dismantling the “boring” stereotype, replacing it with an image of precision and strategic mastery.
The ultimate goal of this “Cricket-led Revolution” is the Olympic podium. With mixed-team golf slated for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the infrastructure being built today the leagues, the higher prize money, and the corporate backing is designed to produce India’s first golfing gold medalist.
Kapil Dev’s vision is simple: he wants a kid in a Haryana village to look at a golf club with the same reverence they currently reserve for a cricket bat. And looking at the trajectory of the PGTI, that dream is no longer a long shot.
