The Rise of Indian Basketball Team: Key Players and Recent Achievements
I remember watching that crucial moment in the recent FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers when the Indian basketball team, fondly called the Altas, nearly saw their comfortable lead evaporate. With just a minute and 32 seconds remaining, their 11-point advantage had been trimmed down to a nerve-wracking two points at 67-65 after T-Mc Ongotan's basket. My heart was pounding – this was exactly the kind of situation where Indian teams used to crumble in the past. But what happened next made me sit up straight – Sleat answered right back with an acrobatic lay-up on the next possession that not only secured the win but signaled something fundamental had changed in Indian basketball.
Having followed Indian basketball for over a decade, I've witnessed the gradual transformation from being merely participants to becoming genuine contenders. The team's recent performances aren't accidental – they're the result of strategic development, emerging talent, and what I believe is a shifting mentality about what's possible for Indian basketball. When I started covering this sport professionally around 2012, the national team struggled to compete against regional powerhouses. Fast forward to today, and they're pulling off victories that would have been unimaginable back then. The turning point came around 2018 when the Basketball Federation of India implemented their "Project Rise" program, focusing on identifying and nurturing young talent through systematic scouting and international exposure.
Let me tell you about Vishesh Bhriguvanshi – at 32, he's the heart and soul of this team. I've had the privilege of watching his evolution from a raw talent to arguably the best shooting guard in South Asia. His court vision has improved dramatically, and what impresses me most is his leadership during crunch moments. Then there's Amritpal Singh, our 7-foot center who's developed into a dominant force in the paint. I recall interviewing him back in 2016 when he was still refining his post moves – now he's averaging 14.2 points and 8.7 rebounds in international competitions. These veterans have been crucial, but what excites me even more are the younger players coming through the ranks.
The real game-changer has been the emergence of players like Pranav Prince, who at just 21 shows a maturity beyond his years. I watched him during the recent South Asian Games where he dropped 22 points against Bangladesh – his athleticism and three-point shooting remind me of a young Steph Curry in terms of shooting mechanics, though obviously at a different level. The depth we're developing is unprecedented – we now have at least eight players capable of scoring in double figures on any given night, compared to just three or four back in 2015.
Our recent achievements speak volumes about this progress. The team climbed to their highest-ever FIBA ranking of 67th last month, up from 78th just two years ago. We've won 12 of our last 15 international matches, including that stunning victory over China in the Asian Games qualifiers where we came back from 15 points down. The statistics show remarkable improvement – our field goal percentage has jumped from 41% in 2019 to nearly 48% this season, and we're committing fewer turnovers (14.2 per game compared to 19.8 three years ago). These aren't just numbers – they reflect the systematic development happening behind the scenes.
What many people don't realize is how much the domestic infrastructure has improved. The UBA Pro Basketball League has been instrumental in providing competitive platforms, though I personally believe we still need more international exposure for our young players. The federation's focus on sports science and nutrition has paid dividends – I've noticed our players maintaining intensity throughout four quarters, whereas before we'd often fade in the final period. The government's Target Olympic Podium Scheme has allocated approximately ₹15.2 crore to basketball development, which might not sound like much compared to other sports budgets but represents significant progress for our basketball program.
The mental aspect has been equally transformative. That sequence against the Chiefs where Sleat immediately responded to Ongotan's basket demonstrates the new confidence running through this team. Earlier, such pressure situations would typically result in rushed shots or turnovers. Now, there's a belief system in place – you can see it in their body language during timeouts, in their defensive communication, in their willingness to take responsibility in clutch moments. This psychological shift might be the most important development of all.
Looking ahead, I'm genuinely optimistic about our chances in the 2023 Asian Championships. While we're probably still a year or two away from challenging traditional powerhouses like Australia and Iran consistently, we're definitely in that second tier of Asian basketball nations now. The pipeline of talent looks promising too – our junior team recently finished fourth in the FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship, our best-ever performance at that level. If we can maintain this trajectory and address what I see as our remaining weakness – consistent three-point shooting – I believe we can break into the top 50 globally within the next three years.
The rise of Indian basketball represents more than just sporting success – it's about changing perceptions about what Indian athletes can achieve in team sports beyond cricket. Every acrobatic lay-up like Sleat's, every comeback victory, every rising ranking point contributes to building a new narrative. The journey ahead remains challenging, but for the first time in my career covering Indian basketball, I feel we have the right pieces in place to compete at the highest level. The foundation has been laid, the talent is emerging, and most importantly, the belief is growing with each possession, each game, each victory.
