Cricket at the Olympics?! The Iconic Game Making Its Biggest Comeback at LA 2028—Nations Go All In!

Being an Indian, cricket is our synonym! And can you imagine if our favourite game is being played on the world’s biggest sports stage, the Olympic Games? That's exactly what is going to happen in Los Angeles in 2028! After a 128 year gap, cricket is officially returning to the Olympics. This time, it will be in the fast and fun Twenty20 (T20) format, with both men’s and women’s teams competing for medals. It’s a massive moment for us, cricket fans!

Historical Background

Cricket was first included in the 1900 Paris Olympics, when a single match was played between Great Britain (represented by a club team, Devon and Somerset Wanderers) and France (mostly British expats). Great Britain won convincingly by 158 runs. Back then, it wasn’t even clear that this was officially part of the Olympic programme, and it only gained recognition much later. Cricket disappeared from the Olympics after that and did not feature again for 128 years.

Over the years, cricket was part of other multi‑sport events like the 1998 Commonwealth Games (men’s cricket) and the 2022 Birmingham Games (women’s T20), showing its growing popularity as a sport.

Cricket at LA 2028: The Format

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially confirmed in October 2023 that cricket will be part of the LA Games as one of five new sports, alongside baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash. The announcement came during the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai, specially appealing to the cricket-loving nation.

20 tournaments will feature, each with six national teams, and each squad will have 15 players (90 athletes per gender). The tournament will begin on July 12, 2028, and run through to the medal matches on July 20 (women) and July 29 (men) at Fairplex in Pomona, Southern California.

First, the six teams will be split into two groups of three. Each team will play every other team in its group. Then, the top teams will face teams from the other group in cross‑group matches. Finally, based on those results, the top two teams overall will contest the gold‑medal match, and the third and fourth‑placed teams will play for the bronze medal.

Nations and Qualifications

Only the top six ranked teams in the ICC T20 rankings will qualify to ensure a competitive field. There’s a debate over whether the host country (USA) earns an automatic qualification. Sumod Damodar from ICC’s committee said:

Should the U.S. get an automatic place? I’ll say let’s put the best that we can on show. We need to make that impression like track and field, we need to become a regular Olympic fixture.

Sanjay Govil from Major League Cricket in the U.S. supported merit‑based qualification:

It should be based on merit, because we also want to make sure that it’s competitive.

Reaction from the Sports World

Greg Barclay, ICC Chairman, called the announcement “thrilling”:

To have the opportunity to showcase our great sport at the LA28 Games will be great for players and fans alike.

Mithali Raj, India’s former women’s captain, celebrated the news:

It is so exciting that cricket is now an Olympic sport. Players will get the chance to compete for an Olympic gold medal, and a chance for more fans around the world to enjoy our fantastic sport.

Indian IOC member Nita Ambani said this decision will help the Olympic movement reach “newer geographies” beyond South Asia, and also added:

Cricket is not just a sport, it’s a religion!

Neeraj Chopra, the Indian Olympic star, also welcomed the inclusion:

This will benefit cricket as an entry into the Olympics will only further its worldwide appeal.

For someone who grew up watching cricket matches unfold over evenings or weekends, imagining it as part of the Grand Olympic festivities is truly special. As a fan, I can’t wait to watch nations battle not only for wickets and runs, but for Olympic gold medals in this beloved game. LA 2028 will be more than just a tournament, it will be a global celebration of cricket’s spirit. Cheers to that bright future!

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