‘Kapil to Kohli: India’s Rise to Cricket Greatness’ explores the four eras of cricket in India, from their early cricket clubs and the role of the Parsees to the World Cup victory in 1983 to the present day.

Museum executive director Rina Hore said the exhibition, which runs until February 28, was an insight into the history of Indian cricket history and features many match-used artefacts.

“[The exhibition] is a snapshot encompassing the extraordinary history of Indian cricket from its beginnings through to the present day,” Ms Hore said.

Read more:

“The [display] is sample of the deep richness of Indian cricket...they speak to us about the central place cricket holds in India’s identity,” she said.

Included in the exhibition opening was the unveiling of a new portrait of batsman Sachin Tendulkar by Welsh-born, Southern Highlands based artist, Dave Thomas. 

The portrait is the seventh of 20 portraits commissioned by the museum which honour international cricketers who have made a significant contribution to the development of the game.

Mr Thomas said he was first commissioned for the portraits following the Hall of Fame expansion and has travelled around to connect with each portrait subject.

“It’s going to be a unique collection because we are honouring these individuals long into retirement,” Mr Thomas said.

“I painted Dennis Lillee at 68, Sir Garfield Sobers at 80. They’re sitting relaxed as I painted them, and on the wall behind them is a painting of a photograph of them in their heyday,” he said.

Destination NSW’s Indian country manager, Paramjit Bawa, travelled all the way from Mumbai for the opening and acknowledged the opportunity the exhibit offered for tourism expansion with Indian tourists.

“I’ve been working with the Bradman Museum for the last four and a half years, trying to push tourists to come down to Bowral because India is a cricket-mad country and having this kind of asset here is great,” Mr Bawa said.

“But, people need to first become aware that it’s here and then get their travel agents to bring them here,” he said.

Sign up for breaking news and a weekly newsletter delivered straight to your inbox…