Biopics have become increasingly popular in recent years, with many critically acclaimed and commercially successful films being made in this genre. Biopics mostly cover the entire life of the subject or focus on a specific period of time or event in their life. These films are usually based on a true story and can include real-life events, experiences, and achievements of the subject.

Nothing beats playing a sport in person. But watching sports biopics may just be the next best thing. Here are some best Indian sports biopics no sports lover should miss.

Also Read: Top 8 Indian cricketers who acted in movies

Best Indian Sports Biopics

10. Budhia Singh – Born to Run

Inspired by a true story, Budhia Singh: Born to Run tells the remarkable journey of this legendary Bhubaneswar-born Budhia Singh, who made history when he ran from Bhubaneswar to Puri, a distance of 65 km, in seven hours and two minutes, that too in 50° Centigrade.

Focusing primarily on the wonder kid’s outstanding talent and not wasting much screen time on unnecessary details, the biopic is as much a story of true grit, courage, determination and tolerance, as much it is an inspiring drama about one man’s fight to spot exceptional talent in a child and make all-out efforts towards making the child a living legend.

9. Jhund

Nagraj Popatrao Manjule’s Jhund is not an outright sports biopic, even though it follows the usual beats of a good sports drama. The film is a commentary on what we as a society can do to help the have-nots identify their plus points and cross the boundary to leap onto the other, brighter side.

Amitabh’s Vijay Borade, modelled on Vijay Barse, a retired sports professor Vijay Barse, who has trained countless street kids in football and formed an NGO Slum Soccer, speaks adequately about it in a crucial part of the film, set in Nagpur’s bylanes, shot wonderfully (Sudhakar Reddy Yakkanti).

8. Sand Ki Aankh

Based on the lives of India's oldest sharpshooters, sisters-in-law Chandro and Prakashi Tomar, who come from the Uttar Pradesh village of Johri, Saand Ki Aankh allows us to experience their journey as newlyweds, parents of one child after another, household workers, and people who have been purposeless for nearly six decades.

Despite how much they may dislike it, they have come to terms with the patriarchal values of the culture. The first time they hold a gun in their hands and realise they have a natural ability to hit the target is when they are in their sixties, thanks to Dr. Yashpal, an aspiring doctor who gives up his desire to open a shooting range in the village. 

7. Soorma

This is an inspiring true story of the triumph of the hockey player Sandeep Singh who had a near-death experience when he was at the top of his game but overcame it thanks to his unwavering passion for the game, hard work, and sheer willpower. 

Sandeep Singh, a specialist in penalty corners for the Indian hockey team from Shahbad, Haryana, made headlines when he was accidentally shot in the spine on a train while en route to join the team that would fly to Germany for the 2006 World Cup. 

He sustained an injury that rendered him paralyzed, and the medical community gave him little hope of ever walking normally again. Sandeep, however, not only bounced back from it but also made a comeback and reclaimed his title as the best drag-flicker. In January 2009, he was appointed captain of the Indian national hockey team.

6. Azhar

The movie is based on the true story of Indian cricket player Mohd Azharuddin. The screenplay and direction of Azhar left a lot to be desired, but the one reason to watch this movie is Emraan Hashmi’s performance. He got Mohd Azharuddin’s body language and mannerisms bang on. 

The highlight was the slight bobble of the head and the standing stance that were perfectly reminiscent of Azhar. While the film and its politics were not all pitch perfect, the lead man’s efforts did make this movie worth a watch.

Also Read: 10 Forgotten Indian Cricketers and Their Stories

5. Dangal

Dangal tells the story of the legendary Phogat family of wrestlers, particularly Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari and their patriarch Mahavir Singh Phogat.

With gritty realism, the story illustrates how amateur wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, portrayed by Aamir Khan, after being forced to give up the sport, lived his dream through his daughters who went on to become Commonwealth Games gold medallists.

Winning a score of awards both in India and abroad, the movie was widely lauded by critics. Dangal is perhaps one of the finest sports movies in India.

4. Mary Kom

Priyanka Chopra pulls off a fantastic performance in the eponymous movie from 2014, based on the life of legendary Indian boxer MC Mary Kom. Portraying her journey as a pugilist as well as her balancing of family and career, the Mary Kom movie was widely praised and recorded the highest-ever opening weekend for a female-led Indian film.

Undergoing rigorous physical training, Priyanka Chopra went to every length to pin down Mary Kom’s style of boxing to where even seasoned boxing enthusiasts will be hard-pressed to pick out any flaws in her depiction of the action.

Even though the film was released in 2014, the story only goes up to her 2008 World Boxing Championships victory. Due to the contractual reasons specifying that the movie only depicts her life until 2008, it left out her 2012 London Olympics bronze medal win.

3. 83

The film 83 tells the tale of one of India's most famous occasions. The nation was still adjusting to life on the international stage when it won the 1983 Cricket World Cup. Although India had been free from colonial rule for 36 years, respect still needed to be earned. 

Under Kapil Dev's leadership, the team that was chosen to represent India in the World Cup in England was more excited about the opportunity to take a paid vacation than about the possibility of winning the tournament. 

The underdogs, who arrived in England without proper transportation, who was denied entry to Lords (the cricket stadium) because it was assumed they would not make it to the final, who were surviving on meager daily wages, who were fighting their own people, and who believed they were worthless, went on to prove to the world that if you believe it, nothing in this world is impossible.

2. MS Dhoni: The Untold Story

The true tale of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Indian Cricket team's world-champion captain who went from being a ticket collector in Indian Railways to collecting trophies.

"MS Dhoni: The Untold Story" is a biographical film that follows the life of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, a renowned Indian cricketer, from his childhood in Ranchi, India, to his rise as one of the most successful captains of the Indian cricket team.

The film explores Dhoni's early struggles as a budding cricketer, his determination to succeed, and his rise to fame through a combination of hard work and natural talent. The film also highlights some of Dhoni's most significant accomplishments, including his successful captaincy during the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup.

Also Read: MS Dhoni's captaincy record in ICC Finals

1. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (Run Milkha Run) is based on the life of Commonwealth Games and multiple Asian Games medal-winning Indian sprinter Milkha Singh.

Starring Farhan Akhtar as Milkha Singh, the film pulls no punches, as it goes back to Milkha Singh’s early days during partition and charts his upbringing and strife en route to becoming one of India’s most cherished athletes.

One of the finest Indian sports biopics, it's based on the book The Race of My Life, written by Milkha Singh and his daughter. While selling the film rights, Milkha Singh charged a mere rupee, on the condition that a share of the profits goes to the Milkha Singh Charitable Trust benefiting needy sportspersons.

The hashtag #BoycottAsiaCup is trending on X (formerly Twitter) as Indian cricket fans and social media users express outrage over India’s scheduled match against Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup. The tournament is set to take place from September 9 to 28 in the UAE, with India and Pakistan placed in the same group and likely to face each other up to a possible three times during the event.

The backlash boosted following the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April 2025, which claimed 26 civilian lives, and India’s subsequent military response, Operation Sindoor. Many Indian fans see the decision to play Pakistan as insensitive and accuse the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of prioritising commercial attractions over national sentiment. This has led to calls for the BCCI to boycott the Asia Cup to uphold a stance against Pakistan's involvement amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Enough of this nonsense. #BoycottAsiaCup https://t.co/onAFIGwMju

— Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) July 26, 2025

Criticism has also targeted Indian players and officials for inconsistency, such as their boycott of a recent World Championship of Legends match against Pakistan, but their willingness to play in the Asia Cup. The controversy reflects the wider debate about whether sports should remain separate from political issues between the two nations.

If Terror and Talks Can’t go Together then Terror and Cricket can’t go together. #BoycottAsiaCup #BoycottBCCI pic.twitter.com/sbPzjXOHMH

— BRADDY (@braddy_Codie05) July 26, 2025

Asia Cup 2025 full schedule

As far as local sporting rivalries go, few on this planet can compare to the one between East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan, commonly known as the Kolkata Derby. 

The two giants hailing from the same city, Kolkata, have been at each other's throats since East Bengal's inception a century and some change ago on August 1st, 1920, and their rivalry has scripted the most glorious chapter in the history of Indian football.

The two teams are not just two football entities but represent two sets of inhabitants of the state of Bengal, who simply cannot stand losing to the other side.  East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan evokes passion unlike any other sporting contest in the country. So ahead of the new season's Kolkata Derby, we take a brief look at the rich history of the rivalry.

Though the data is just an approximation, as of 27th July 2025, it is believed that the tally of overall meetings stands at 403 matches up till now, (including friendlies), where East Bengal have been triumphant 139 times, while Mohun Bagan 135 times. 129 matches have been drawn.

Read Also | Most Iconic Rivalries in European Football Leagues: History & Stats

East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan: Head-to-Head

Since 2020-21, these two teams have played 10 times against each other in ISL, while Mohun Bagan Super Giants have won 9 matches, with only one draw between the two. Mohun Bagan Super Giant is a merger of Mohun Bagan AC and ATK FC.

Mohun Bagan's domination over East Bengal in ISL comes while the two teams enjoy fairly competitive records against each other in other tournaments. In 45 matches of the I-League, East Bengal have won 17 so far and Mohun Bagan 15, while 13 ended in a draw.

In 22 Federation Cup matches, East Bengal have won eight and Mohun Bagan six, while eight matches ended in a draw. In 12 Rovers Cup matches, both teams have won four each, while four matches ended in a draw.

In 163 Calcutta Football League matches, East Bengal won 56, Mohun Bagan 48 and 59 ended in a draw. East Bengal enjoy a massive record against their archrivals in the IFA Shield. Out of 41 matches, they have won 21, while Mohun Bagan has managed to win only seven of those.

East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan overall record

Indian bowlers, especially pacers, have always waited for the tour of England since it produces seam-friendly pitches, which help them get more wickets. From legends of yesteryears like Kapil to modern-day greats like Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, they have had success in England against England. 

In this article, we present you the list of bowlers with the most wickets vs England in England for India in tests. 

1. Jasprit Bumrah | 51 Wickets

One of the most successful bowlers of this era, Jasprit Bumrah, has the most wickets vs England in England for India in tests. His finest skillset and ability to generate steep bounce and challenging seam movement with his unorthodox bowling action, got him 51 wickets in just 11 matches (20 innings) so far, and there's more to come in the future.

Bumrah achieved his 51st Test wicket during the second innings of the fourth Test match against England in Manchester. With this, he achieved a milestone of 50 Test wickets in England. He joins Wasim Akram (53) and Ishant Sharma (51) as the only Asian bowlers to reach this mark. He now has 51 wickets, averaging 26.38 and an economy rate of just 2.79. He also has 4 five-wicket hauls to under his name.

Bumrah's stats vs England in England

2. Ishant Sharma | 48 Wickets

Ishant Sharma is widely known for his pace and wicket-taking abilities. He took 48 wickets in 14 matches, with an economy of 3.29.

Ishant's ability to make the ball come in from a difficult length has worked well on English conditions. Moreover, his short-ball strategy during the 2014 series at Lord's helped India register a famous win in England.

Read Also: Most international wickets for India

Sharma's stats vs England in England

3. Kapil Dev | 43 Wickets

The Indian legend, Kapil Dev, is the third-highest wicket-taker in the list with 43 wickets in 13 matches played. The former Indian captain has an exceptional record against England and dominated on their home soil throughout his career.

Kapil's incredible outswing always had the batters guessing and with his ability to clean up tails, also helped him get many wickets in those conditions.

Dev stats vs England in England

4. Anil Kumble | 36 Wickets 

Anil Kumble holds the fourth place for most wickets vs England in England for India in tests. He took 36 wickets in 10 matches, which is commendable for a spinner in such conditions.

Kumble was the senior-most bowler of the squad during that time, and was often described as bowling "faster" for a spinner, that too with high accuracy. His spin deliveries was considered to be as fast as a "jumbo jet."

Kumble's stats vs England in England

5. Bishan Singh Bedi | 35 Wickets

Bishan Singh Bedi is the one name that stands out while discussing the wicket-taking rate against England. Bedi's incredible stat as a spinner in pace bowling friendly conditions like England sets him apart from the rest.

He took 35 wickets in 12 matches (18 innings), with an economy less than 3. Bedi also has the highest number of maidens among all the players in this list.

Singh Bedi stats vs England in England

6. Mohammed Shami | 34 Wickets

Mohammad Shami has a brilliant overseas record, and only a few Indian bowlers can be at the level with him. He has 34 wickets in 12 matches to his name, with an economy of 3.56.

Shami consistently hits challenging lengths, which makes him a wicket-taker against England batters. His unfortunate absence in the upcoming Test squad against England therefore became a point of concern for the fans.

Shami's status vs England in England

7. Mohammed Siraj | 32 Wickets

Mohammed Siraj, who made his debut in the Boxing Day Test of 2020, holds the seventh position with 32 wickets in just 9 matches at an average of 35.93 and an economy rate of 3.93.

Siraj also recorded the second-best bowling performance by an Indian at Edgbaston in Test cricket since Chetan Sharma’s 6/58 in 1986. The Hyderabad-born cricketer also became the first visiting pacer to bag a six-wicket haul at Edgbaston since 1993.

Siraj's stats vs England in England

8. B. S. Chandrasekhar | 31 Wickets

The wizard of leg spin, B.S. Chandrashekhar, makes his way up here with 31 wickets in 9 matches against England on their home soil. He had a phenomenal bowling figure in a match with 8 wickets (conceding 114 runs).

His most cherished performance against England came in the 1971 Oval Test, where he took 6 wickets for 38 runs, leading India to secure their first series victory on the English soil.

Read Also: Weird Styles: Indian players with unusual bowling actions

Chandrashekhar stats vs England in England

9. Zaheer Khan | 31 Wickets

One of India's most celebrated pace bowlers, Zaheer Khan, holds the ninth position with 31 wickets in only 8 away matches vs England. The former left-arm pacer was one of the best for India during his era. 

Zaheer had made legends like Alastair Cook his bunny with his lethal outswingers, going away from Cook. He was the best of his time, who significantly enhanced India's bowling strength.

Khan's stats vs England in England 

10. Ravindra Jadeja | 29 Wickets

Ravindra Jadeja, who is one of India's key all-rounders, holds the tenth position with 29 wickets in 14 matches. He is equally good with the bat as he is with spinning the ball for his nation.

Jadeja's ability to bowl long spells with variations, makes him a vital asset for the Indian team.

Read Also: Most Wickets for India in Test Cricket | Ravindra Jadeja overtakes Ishant Sharma’s tally

Jadeja's stats vs England in England 

11. Vinoo Mankad | 20 Wickets

Vinoo Mankad stands out from an early era. The former all-rounder truly made his mark on England soil by taking 20 wickets in just 6 matches. 

With his tight bowling and impeccable lengths, Mankad made the most out of the English conditions and proved why he was considered one of the best of his generation.

Mankad stats vs England in England 

12. Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan | 20 Wickets 

The 12th name on the list, Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan, who also had success in the English conditions, took 20 wickets in 10 matches.

He was a valuable off-spinner for the team, known for his accuracy and control over the ball.

Venkataraghavan's status vs England in England 

England cricket captain Ben Stokes etched his name into cricketing folklore by becoming only the fifth captain in Test history to score a century and take a five-wicket haul in the same match. Stokes achieved this rare feat during the ongoing fourth Test against India at Old Trafford, Manchester, showcasing his all-round brilliance once again.

On Day 4, Stokes produced a gritty batting performance, scoring his 14th Test century with a well-timed boundary off Mohammed Siraj, his first triple-figure score in more than two years. Earlier in the match, the England skipper had delivered an impressive five-wicket haul (5 for 72), putting his team in a commanding position with the ball in hand.

This achievement placed Stokes alongside legendary captains Denis Atkinson (1955, Bridgetown), Garry Sobers (1966, Leeds), Mushtaq Mohammad (1977, Port of Spain), and Imran Khan (1983, Faisalabad).

Read Also | ICC Men's Cricketer of the year winners of last ten years

Captains to score a ton and a five-wicket haul in the same test

Denis Atkinson - vs AUS - 1955 - Bridgetown

The former West Indies captain was the first player to achieve the feat of scoring a century and taking a five-wicket haul in the same test match as a captain. Against the mighty Aussies in Bridgetown in 1995, Atkinson first scored a double ton (219) in the first inning while batting and then took 56/5 with his medium pace off-cutters. 

Garry Sobers - vs ENG - 1966 - Leeds

Probably the greatest all-rounders in cricket, Sir Gary Sobers became the second captain to achieve this milestone in his career. Against England in 1996 in Leeds, the West Indies captain scored 174 in the first inning with the bat and then went on to take 41/5 with the ball.

In the second inning, West Indies asked England to follow on, and Sobers took 3 wickets in the second inning as well. 

Mushtaq Mohammad - vs WI - 1977 - Port of Spain

Former Pakistani captain Mushtaq Mohammad was the first Asian captain to score a test century and take a five-wicket haul in the same test match. Muhstaq, in the 1977 tour of Pakistan in Port of Spain, scored 121 in the first inning against the likes of Andy Roberts and Joel Garner. 

He then picked up 28/5 with this leg spin. Mushtaq also took three wickets in the second inning.

Imran Khan - vs India - 1983 - Faisalabad

One of the greatest captains of cricket history, Imran Khan, was equally good with both bat and ball in hand. The former Pakistani legend first took 98/6 in the first inning of the Faisalabad test against India in 1983. 

Then with the bat, he scored 117 in just 121 balls batting at no. 7. In the second inning, he went on to take another five-wicket haul as Kapil Dev's 7-wicket haul was not enough to save the match for India. 

Pakistan won the test match by 10 wickets.

Read Also | Most 5-wicket hauls by a captain in Tests

Ben Stokes - vs India - 2025 - Manchester

Ben Stokes replicated Imran Khan's record to become the fifth player to achieve this milestone. During the 4th test in Manchester against India in 2025, Ben Stokes first took 72/5 with the ball to halt India's innings. 

And then, even with the pain, where he had to retire hurt once, Stokes scored his 14th test ton to take England's score over 650. He finally got out on 141 while going for a big shot against Ravindra Jadeja.

Not only that, he became only the third player in test history to take 200+ test wickets and score 7000+ test runs alongside Jacques Kallis and Garry Sobers.

The Nation England has produced some extraordinary Batsmen in Cricket. They have impressed Cricket fans from all over the world with their achievements and glory. The test is considered the Best Format in Cricket. England has & had some players who are the best among many in the world of Test Cricket. Sir Jack Hobbs is considered the Best Test Batsman for England in Tests. He has scored 5410 runs in just 102 innings with 15 centuries and 28 half-centuries.

In recent times of greats, Joe Root has proven himself one of the greatest if not the greatest for England in Test Format as he has every right due to his achievements. Now, Let's give a look at the list of the Top 5 Batsmen with the most test centuries for England.

Read Also: Most International Hundreds among Active Players

Top 5 Batsmen with the Most Test Centuries for England:

1. Joe Root | 38 Centuries

England batter Joe Root has written his name in the history books for England in Test Format by bringing up his 38th Test hundred on the third day of the fourth Test between England and India in Manchester. With this century, Root also climbed to second on the all time list of Test run-scorers. Moreover, he also overtook Graham Gooch as the highest run-scorer at Lord's in international cricket. 

Root made his debut in 2012 against team India and since then he has played 157* test matches. He has scored 13,409 runs with an average of 51.17.

2. Alastair Cook | 33 Centuries

Alastair Cook was one of the greats in Test Cricket of his generation. He made his debut against India in 2006 for the national team in Test Cricket. Cook played 161 Test matches in which he batted 291 innings. He scored 12,472 runs with an average of 45.35. His highest score was 294 and he made 33 centuries and 57 half-centuries for his team. Cook played his last Test Match against India in 2018.

3. Kevin Pietersen | 23 Centuries

Kevin Pietersen has proved himself across every format for England. He made his Test debut in 2005 against the Australian side at Lords. Pietersen played 104 test matches, in which he scored 8181 runs with an average of 47.29. He played his last test match against Australia in 2014. Kevin Pietersen is third on the list with 23 Centuries.

4. Wally Hammond | 22 Centuries

The judgment of cricket history is that the greatest batsmen the game has known are - WG Grace, Jack Hobbs, Walter Hammond, and Don Bradman. Others may come close indeed to those four but do not quite take place with them. Hammond made his test debut against South Africa in 1927. He played 85 test matches and scored 7249 runs with an average of 58.45. He is 4th on the list with 22 test centuries. The Great Walter Hammond played his last Test match against New Zealand in 1947.

5. Colin Cowdrey | 22 Centuries

Colin Cowdrey mostly known as Michael Cowdrey played Cricket for 21 years, One of the most durable batsmen in the history of Test Cricket. Cowdrey made his test debut in 1954 against the Aussies and played 114 matches, scoring 7624 runs with an average of 44.06. He is 5th on the list with the same no as Wally Hammond, 22 centuries. Michael Cowdrey played his last test match in 1975 against the Australian side.

Top 10 Players with the Most Centuries in Test Cricket for England: