After a 128-year absence, cricket is poised to make a triumphant return to the Olympic Games at the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, a development that promises to elevate the sport’s global profile.
Last seen in the 1900 Paris Games as a one-off match between Great Britain and France, cricket will re-emerge in the fast-paced Twenty20 (T20) format, featuring six-team tournaments for both men and women.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed this milestone on April 9, 2025, marking only the second time cricket will grace the Olympic stage.
The decision to include cricket among five new sports—alongside squash, flag football, baseball/softball, and lacrosse—reflects the IOC’s strategy to broaden the Games’ appeal and engage diverse audiences.
Each T20 tournament will see 90 athletes, with every team fielding a 15-player squad, totaling 180 cricketers competing for Olympic glory. This compact format, known for its explosive action and accessibility, aligns with the IOC’s aim to deliver a high-energy, viewer-friendly spectacle within the Olympic framework.
Cricket’s return follows years of advocacy from the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has long sought to cement the sport’s place in multi-sport events. Its recent inclusion in the Commonwealth Games (2022) and Asian Games (2010, 2014, 2023) demonstrated its growing viability beyond traditional cricketing nations.
The 2028 Olympics offers a golden opportunity to showcase T20 cricket—a format played by nearly 100 countries—to an international audience, potentially accelerating its expansion into markets like the United States, where the sport remains niche despite hosting matches during the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Qualification details remain under wraps, but the host nation, the USA, is expected to secure an automatic spot in both tournaments.
The remaining five slots per gender will likely hinge on the ICC’s T20I rankings at a designated cut-off date, pitting powerhouses like India, Australia, and England against emerging teams vying for a historic Olympic berth. This streamlined six-team structure, while criticized by some for its exclusivity, ensures a tight, competitive event that fits the Olympics’ logistical constraints.
The significance of this move extends beyond the field. For cricket, the Olympic platform offers unparalleled exposure, potentially inspiring a new generation of players and fans. For the IOC, tapping into cricket’s estimated 2.5 billion global followers—bolstered by stars like Virat Kohli—promises to boost viewership, particularly in South Asia.
Venues and schedules are yet to be finalized, with discussions ongoing about leveraging existing facilities or constructing temporary ones, possibly beyond Los Angeles to optimize broadcast timings for key markets like India.
