In which of the following games is a ball not used as the main object of play?

Introduction / Context:
Different sports use different primary objects of play, such as balls, shuttlecocks or pucks. This question tests basic sports awareness by asking you to identify which game does not use a ball during normal play. Such questions are very common in elementary sports general knowledge sections and help reinforce clear, visual understanding of each sport's equipment.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The games listed are Football, Cricket, Badminton and Tennis.
• We consider the standard, widely played forms of these sports.
• The focus is on whether a ball is used as the main object that players hit, kick or strike.

Concept / Approach:
The concept is straightforward: football uses a football, cricket uses a cricket ball, and tennis uses a tennis ball. Badminton is different because it uses a shuttlecock (also called a shuttle or birdie) instead of any kind of ball. Thus, if you picture the main object in play for each sport, the odd one out with no ball is easy to identify. Visualising or recalling images of professional matches makes the distinction very clear.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Think about football: players kick a spherical ball with their feet and sometimes head it, so a ball is definitely used.Step 2: Consider cricket: bowlers deliver a hard leather ball, and batters strike that ball with the bat.Step 3: Look at tennis: players use rackets to hit a pressurised felt covered ball over a net.Step 4: Now think about badminton: players use rackets to hit a light shuttlecock made of feathers or synthetic material, not a ball.Step 5: Therefore, the only game among the options where a ball is not used is Badminton.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by simply recalling photos or television coverage of these sports. In football, cricket and tennis, the commentary constantly refers to the ball and its movement. In badminton coverage, commentators always talk about the shuttle or shuttlecock, and the object clearly has a cone shape with feathers or plastic, not a spherical ball. This visual and verbal difference confirms that badminton is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Football is built around kicking and controlling a football, so it obviously uses a ball. Cricket cannot be played without a cricket ball being bowled and hit. Tennis involves striking a tennis ball across a net, sometimes at very high speeds. All three are therefore ball based sports and do not satisfy the condition in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Because badminton is a racket sport like tennis, some learners may instinctively group them together and forget that one uses a ball while the other uses a shuttlecock. Another pitfall is reading too quickly and overlooking the phrase "ball is not used." Taking a moment to picture each sport and what object is actually flying, bouncing or rolling during play is the best way to avoid mistakes in questions of this type.

Final Answer:
The game in which a ball is not used is Badminton.