The origins of India cricket, that is, cricket played by the Indians are to be found in Bombay and the first Indian community to start playing the game was the small community of the Zoroastrians, the Parsis. Brought into close contact with the British because of their interest in trade and the first Indian community to westernize, the Parsis founded the first Indian Cricket Club, the Oriental Cricket Club in Bombay in 1848. Parsi clubs were funded and sponsored by Parsi businessmen like Tata and the Wadias. The white cricket elite in India offered no help to enthusiastic Parsis.

The establishment of Parsi Gymkhana became a precedent for other Indians who in turn established clubs based on the idea of religious community.