Cricket is making its historic comeback to the Olympics after 128 years, and the excitement is real. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed that the sport will be featured at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Cricket will compete alongside five new sports at LA28: baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash.
Cricket will be played in the fast-paced T20 style, with both men’s and women’s divisions containing six teams each. Fans worldwide, particularly in cricket-loving countries such as India, have a lot to look forward to as the Olympic spotlight shines on cricket once more.
Cricket Returns to the Olympics after 128 Years
Cricket made its last appearance at the Olympics in 1900, at the Paris Games. In a one-off match, Great Britain defeated France to claim gold. The two-day event had 12 players on each side. Interestingly, the French team was primarily made up of English expats and was officially designated as mixed.
Cricket was initially scheduled to be included in the 1896 Athens Olympics, but it was cancelled due to a lack of entries. The sport has not returned to the Olympic stage since 1900.
Cricket has slowly re-entered multi-sport events in recent years. It participated in the Asian Games in 2010, 2014, and 2023, as well as the 2022 Commonwealth Games (women’s T20). These appearances have demonstrated cricket’s growing popularity across the globe.
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Format, Teams, and Player Quotas for LA28
Cricket’s 2028 Olympic edition will be played in the T20 International (T20I) format, which is the most entertaining and fast-paced version of the game.
Each competition (men’s and women’s) will include six teams with a maximum of 15 players each. The IOC has set 90 athlete quotas per gender to ensure equal participation and representation for men and women.
So far, the IOC has not revealed the venues or the qualification process for LA28 cricket. However, sources said the organising committee aims to attract Indian fans and maximise viewership. Given India’s vast fan base and success in the 2024 T20 World Cup, cricket’s inclusion might bring significant commercial benefits to the Games.
Officials will disclose the whole match schedule closer to the start of the Olympics. Until then, teams will prepare for one of cricket’s most historic moments.
Virat Kohli Says: “It’s a Magnificent Opportunity”
Virat Kohli warmly welcomed cricket’s participation in the 2028 Olympics. He described it as a fantastic chance and stated that winning an Olympic gold medal would be an incredible feeling. He believes that players will give their best to earn a medal on the global stage.
“I think it’s a great thing. And to be the Olympic champions will be an absolutely magnificent feeling. It’s the first of its kind, and I’m sure we’ll be somewhere close to that medal. It’s a great opportunity for some of our guys.” Kohli Said.
Kohli also credited the Indian Premier League (IPL) for cricket’s Olympic success. He stated that the IPL helped the sport expand globally and reach the Olympic level.
“I think that IPL has definitely played a massive role in that as well. It has brought cricket to a stage where it is part of the Olympics. It’s a great opportunity for some of our guys. To be an Olympic champion would be a magnificent feeling, the first of its kind.”
Kohli’s statements reflect how important this moment is to players. As cricket returns to the Olympics, fans and sportsmen prepare for a historic opportunity.
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