Cricket fans have reason to celebrate—after a long wait of 128 years, cricket is officially returning to the Olympic Games. The sport will feature in the T20 format, known for its fast-paced and thrilling nature, at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
T20 Cricket Confirmed for LA 2028 Olympics
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed that six teams will compete in both the men’s and women’s cricket events. Each team will have 15 players, bringing the total to 90 players per category. This move marks a historic milestone, as cricket was last played at the Olympics way back in 1900 during the Paris Games, and that too involved just a single match.
The return of cricket to the Olympics has been long awaited, and now it is not only confirmed for Los Angeles 2028 but also for the Brisbane 2032 edition. This development reflects cricket’s growing global appeal and the increasing popularity of the T20 format, especially in multi-sport events.
Cricket’s Growing Presence in Global Sports
Cricket’s return to the Olympics was made possible by its growing presence in recent global events. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, women’s cricket debuted, with Australia winning gold and India finishing with silver. The sport also featured at the 2023 Asian Games in China, where both men’s and women’s tournaments were held—and India clinched gold medals in both categories.
ICC’s Persistent Push
The journey to the Olympics began in 2021 when the International Cricket Council (ICC) formally proposed cricket’s inclusion. Working closely with the LA28 Organising Committee, the ICC’s efforts bore fruit in October 2023, when cricket was officially added as one of five new sports for the upcoming Olympics.
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