Top 10 Cricket Bat Manufacturers, Suppliers & Exporters in India

Cricket, not only is one of the most popular games in India but also revered like a religion. It has a massive fan following and one cannot imagine being an Indian without having played the game at some stage of our lives. Cricket is a British sport with a long history. When it was first established in India, just a few people participated. Bhupinder Singh, the Maharaja of Patiala, popularised the game. He was a huge supporter of sports. He was a cricket player with his squad. After his kingdom, cricket was his second love. Due to his enthusiasm for the game, he was the driving force for cricket's golden past. His Patiala XI side was the greatest team at the time, and he captained the Indian team. He funded his teams' trips to England.

Every young person wants to grow up to be either a Virat Kohli, a Virender Sehwag, a Sachin Tendulkar or a Jasprit Bumrah. The thrill of seeing massive sixes hit right off the sweet spot of the bat or those fast in-swinging yorkers hitting the stumps is a pleasure to behold. Children and adults can be seen playing cricket in big fields, streets, lanes, parking areas, or any little space where they can swing the bat or bowl their googlies or Yorkers. The minimum kit which every cricket lover has is a cricket bat, leather or tennis balls, and a set of close friends, who are always keen to flaunt their skills. One does not even need a set of wickets, as a tree stump or three similar length bamboo sticks cobbled from the neighbourhood serve the purpose. As is evident, since the game has such a huge following, therefore, it is not a surprise to see many cricket bat manufacturers based in India. A game that has over a billion fans, is surely good business.

Cricket bats require good willow to be manufactured. Therefore, willow such as English Willow or the Kashmir Willow is always the most prized wood for the manufacturing of a cricket bat. Thus, the most popular types of cricket bats are made using Kashmir and English Willow. Many companies in India employ skilled artisans to manufacture high-quality cricket bats to suit the demands of their clients. Many international cricketers have their bats custom-made by these elegant craftsmen. The bat is suited to match their stroke play, their finesse in shot-making, and their ability to handle the weight of the bat. The cricket bats can be heavy or light, depending on the need of the player. The players who are elegant with their stroke-making prefer heavy bats whereas the ones who are adept at wristwork prefer light bats. Having said that, it is just a general notion and there is no such set rule to dictate or decide the choice of bats.

The top ten cricket bat manufacturers of India are described below. All their cricket bats are exported across the world and are a prized possession for many budding cricketers. All these companies have built their cricket bat brands like SS, SG, DSC, etc.

1. Sareen Sports Industries:

This company is the manufacturer of the world-famous “SS” brand of cricketing bats. Often touted as the best bat in the world, The product “SS Ton” is a particular favourite amongst all cricketers.  They make their bats using Kashmir and English willow, and also source other brands of wood from India and worldwide. They are based out of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. Iconic cricketers like VVS Laxman and Quinton DeKock are famous cricketers who use their brand of bats. In 1976, Sareen Sports Industries launched SS SUNRIDGES in the Indian market after a lot of hard work and dedication. In 1979, the firm began exporting cricket bats to the United Kingdom and Australia. Sareen Sports Industries produces high-quality cricket equipment to fulfill the needs of both domestic and international markets.

2. B.D. Mahajan & Son Pvt. Limited:

B. D. Mahajan & Sons Private Limited, established in 1986, is dedicated to manufacturing, supplying, and exporting a wide range of cricket equipment, including bats, balls, and batting pads, among other items. To achieve immaculate quality standards, they purchase raw materials from reputable and trustworthy vendors. They are ably backed by teams of skilled technicians, managers, and executives that work tirelessly to achieve new product excellence milestones. Their contemporary production facilities are fully equipped with cutting-edge machines and employ cutting-edge technology to ensure that production runs smoothly. BDM Cricket Bats and Cricket Accessories have been used by famous cricketers for over 80 years and are considered trendsetters. They export their cricket bats and other cricketing gear across the world.

3. Kookaburra Sports:

Kookaburra is an international cricketing giant which has its manufacturing facility in India. Being one of the leading cricket bat manufacturers, all their cricketing gear is manufactured in India and branded. The history of Kookaburra is that Alfred Grace (AG) Thompson founded Kookaburra Sport in Melbourne in 1890. The company sells its products in India through its manufacturing unit that is based out of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. The Kookaburra Sports India office is also located there. The manufacturing facility in India creates products for the Indian market. Their cricket bats are renowned for their symmetry and balance. This brand is a favourite amongst Australian and New Zealand Cricketers.

4. Sanspareils Greenlands:

This is one of the largest and most reputable cricket equipment manufacturers in the world. In pre-independence India, the company was founded in 1931. It began as predominantly an export-oriented manufacturing facility. Sunil Gavaskar became SG's brand ambassador in the 1970s, and the rest, as they say, is history. SG has grown into a well-rounded manufacturing company that produces everything from English Willow and Kashmir Willow Cricket Bats. SG has now expanded into cricket infrastructure, including nets and fields that may be adapted to the needs of the client. SG's aim is to become India's foremost sports brand by providing high-quality, low-cost items to all of its customers. As a result, SG currently produces genuine and attractive sports clothes, footwear, and home workout accessories including gym gloves, skipping ropes, and resistance tubes.

5. Delux Sports Company:

Delux Sports Company began creating quality bats for many of the world's leading cricket brands in the early 1980s. They have been one of the greatest bat makers in the world since then. Their light weight bats are crafted from the best willow available, purchased from either Kashmir or England, because the dried willow blade is the best in the industry. They get their handles from Singapore, which gives the cricket bat the most control and power. Leading cricketers such as David Miller and Usman Khwaja regularly endorse their products. They ship internationally due to the exceptional quality of their product. The brand “DSC” is synonymous with high-quality and precision products for cricket.

6. MRF Sports Goods:

MRF Sports Goods is a subsidiary of the rubber giant Madras Rubber Factory. Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli are the famous cricketers endorsed by the company. They also have an MRF pace academy, which serves to hone the pace bowling talent of India. Crafted by the finest willows, their cricket bats are much sought after by many cricketers. Their bats are manufactured in Meerut and Ludhiana.

7. A2 Cricket:

A2 Cricket are relative newcomers in the field of cricketing merchandise and goods. They started their operation in 2018 but have shown resilience and zeal to succeed in this business segment. Their products are brilliantly manufactured and their cricketing bats are a delight to hold and use. These bats offer supreme balance and finesse. Their bats come in various weights and mostly are made out of willow. The company is headquartered in Lucknow with its manufacturing unit in the nearby city of Meerut.

8. Beat All Sports:

This is the owner of the iconic brand “BAS”. Since 1935, Beat All Sports has been an undisputed leader and a household name. It has a long history of producing and selling sporting items. It is a pioneer in precise manufacturing and exports sports equipment, particularly cricket equipment. The company, which has the distinction of being the oldest and largest in the sports industry, is now a global manufacturer and exporter of sports goods. In 1950, the company relocated its operations to Jalandhar.

9. Gunn & Moore:

The GM brand name is linked with the highest standards of craftsmanship, and Gunn and Moore have a 130-year history in cricket. Ben Stokes, Ross Taylor, Cameron Green, Adrian Markham, and others are among the current GM-sponsored players. Despite being an English company, its sports equipments are made and sold all around the world, including in India.

10. Elevar Bats:

The company is a new entrant in this domain but has been making giant strides owing to its superior quality of products and customer experience. It was started in 2017 by two friends, who brought in the use of cutting-edge technology in the bat manufacturing process. They have already sold over one million cricket bats since the inception of the company.

Conclusion:

Cricket is a very popular game in India and cricket bats are always in demand. Various measures are taken by Cricket board of India to popularize the game in India. The Indian Premier League and other initiatives are being undertaken by the cricket body to enhance fan interest in the games. In conclusion, it's reasonable to say that in India, cricket is more than just a game; it's a way of life. It fosters a sense of community and camaraderie. This is a comprehensive list of India's leading cricket bat manufacturers. The city of Meerut is home to a slew of lesser-known companies and independent artisans. Companies like SG and SS produce products of unrivaled quality. However new entrants like Elevar and A2 cricket are fast catching up.

FAQs: Cricket Bat

Q. Which cricket bat wood is better?

Ans. English cricket willow wood is better when equated to Kashmir willow wood.

Q. Which bat does Virat Kohli use?

Ans. Virat Kohli, the former Indian cricket captain endorses MRF. So, he is always seen with his MRF cricket bat.

Q. Do new bats have to be knocked in?

Ans. Yes, it is advisable to knock in the new bat to ensure a sweet spot is developed.