The Bombay High Court indicated during proceedings that young cricketers holding Overseas Citizen of India cards who wish to represent India could pursue full Indian citizenship as a pathway to doing so. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna took up petitions filed by twelve junior cricketers holding OCI cards, who have challenged a Board of Control for Cricket in India requirement that players carry an Indian passport to compete in its tournaments. The bench indicated a preference for deferring the matter to a later date.
Kavin Kartik, an OCI cardholder, brought the petition on behalf of a group of junior cricketers based and schooled in India, stating that their request extended no further than obtaining clearance to participate in domestic competitions. Kunal Cheema, appearing as counsel for the petitioners alongside advocate Datta Mane, argued that a favourable ruling would open the door to Indian Premier League eligibility for those they represent.
The judges noted that a pool of skilled cricketers already exists within the country and posed a question to the court about why OCI cardholders seeking to represent the nation had not pursued full citizenship. According to a broadcast outlet, Chief Justice Tripathi raised a question with the individual over why they had not applied for Indian citizenship, given the depth of connection to representing the country that they had expressed. The bench also indicated that players faced a choice between retaining their OCI status and pursuing an Indian passport.
Prior to rule changes that took effect in 2023, OCI cardholders had been active participants in domestic cricket competitions run by the BCCI. Arguing on the BCCI's behalf, Dr Birendra Saraf told the court that OCI cardholders are barred under the Citizenship Amendment Act from playing for India at the international level, and that cricket could not be treated as a means of earning a livelihood by the petitioners.
Following oral submissions from counsel representing the petitioners, the bench clarified that no obligation was being placed on OCI cardholders to alter their citizenship status. Rather than issuing a ruling, the bench directed the BCCI, the Union government, and the petitioners to place before it an update on the status of citizenship applications lodged by OCI cardholders who had sought to acquire Indian nationality. No affidavit from the Centre has been placed on record, and the case is scheduled to come before the bench on 25 November.
