India, Oct. 9 -- The blue trucks rolled into the village just as the sun was setting below the horizon, their speakers blaring Bollywood music and cricket commentary. Kids dropped evening games and ran after them, shouting and laughing, while their parents emerged from homes and shops to see what all the fuss was about. Within an hour, the dusty square where local boys usually played cricket with tennis balls had transformed into an open-air stadium. A massive screen flickered to life, broadcasting the IPL match in clarity. For many villagers, this was their first time watching cricket on anything larger than a cracked phone screen passed around between friends.

Throughout May 2025, these trucks were making their way from Mumbai to New D...