Cricket’s Historic Return: A Century in Waiting for the 2028 Olympics
In a landmark decision made during a meeting in Mumbai, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially approved five new sports for inclusion in the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. While much of the excitement in the United States centred around the inclusion of flag football and lacrosse, and the return of baseball and softball, the global spotlight was firmly on the reintroduction of cricket—a sport making its Olympic return after more than a century.
Cricket, last featured in the 1900 Paris Olympics, is set to grace the Los Angeles Games with six men’s teams and six women’s teams competing in 2028. For passionate followers in cricket-obsessed nations like India and Pakistan, this announcement has been met with enthusiasm, as it brings a sense of long-overdue recognition. For those unfamiliar with the sport, this inclusion presents an opportunity to explore the world of wickets, bowling, and batting, a sport that dates back to the 18th century.
Although cricket lacks widespread popularity in the United States compared to other new Olympic sports like lacrosse or baseball, it still boasts a significant domestic fanbase. Moreover, data suggests that cricket's popularity in the U.S. is poised to grow, especially with the upcoming Olympic exposure.
The Rationale Behind Cricket's Olympic Inclusion
Thomas Bach, the president of the IOC, described cricket's inclusion as a "win-win situation." With an estimated global fanbase of around 2.5 billion people, cricket is the second most popular sport in the world, surpassed only by soccer. However, most of these fans are concentrated in a few cricket-loving countries, particularly in South Asia.
The inclusion of cricket in the Olympics offers the sport a platform to expand its global reach while simultaneously allowing the IOC to engage a dedicated fanbase that might not otherwise tune into the Games. Bach highlighted cricket's growing international importance and emphasised that the Olympics strive to represent the world’s most popular sports.
The Role of Twenty20 in Cricket's Olympic Comeback
Cricket's return to the Olympics would likely not have been possible without the introduction of the Twenty20 (T20) format—a shorter, more dynamic version of the sport where matches last just three to four hours instead of an entire day or more. Introduced in 2003, the T20 format gained widespread popularity with the establishment of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2007, which has since evolved into one of the most lucrative sports leagues globally. In 2022, broadcasters paid $6.2 billion for a five-year TV rights deal, with each of the league’s ten teams now valued at over $1 billion.
Following the IPL's success, other international T20 leagues emerged, including Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States, which completed its inaugural season earlier this year. Vijay Srinivasan, co-founder of MLC, noted that the fast-paced T20 format has captured attention worldwide, making it a perfect fit for the U.S. sports market, where long-duration sports may struggle to gain traction.
Beyond the appeal of T20, there is also a clear financial incentive behind cricket’s Olympic inclusion. India, the epicentre of the cricket world, has not yet sold its TV rights for the 2028 Olympics. The addition of cricket is expected to significantly increase the value of these rights, potentially adding at least $100 million.
Srinivasan, who also founded Willow TV, a U.S.-based cricket broadcaster, pointed out that the Olympics haven’t traditionally generated substantial media value from the Indian market. By incorporating cricket, the IOC is strategically tapping into a region where the sport enjoys immense popularity.
Anticipating Cricket's Impact on the Olympics
Cricket’s leaders have spent years advocating for the sport’s inclusion in the Olympic program. Greg Barclay, chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), expressed his excitement, particularly since the IOC's confirmation took place during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in Mumbai. Barclay referred to the decision as the "icing on the cake" and is eager to see where this journey will take the sport.
The cricket community is particularly excited about the inclusion of a women’s team event, viewing it as a pivotal step in the growth of women’s cricket, which has been gaining momentum, especially with the launch of India’s Women’s Premier League earlier this year. Many are also curious to see how the Olympics might influence the global trajectory of a sport that has been popular for centuries.
Cricket's reappearance in the Olympics, after an absence of 128 years, marks a significant milestone. Proposed by the LA28 Organising Committee, cricket was one of five additional sports confirmed for inclusion at the 141st IOC Session in October 2023. This decision has generated excitement not just among traditional cricketing nations, but also among global sports enthusiasts.
Cricket’s Potential in the United States
Ricky Ponting, a cricket legend, voiced his enthusiasm for cricket’s Olympic return during an interview on The ICC Review. He highlighted the potential for cricket to reach new audiences and establish itself at the grassroots level in the U.S., particularly with the growth of Major League Cricket.
Ponting, who has spent significant time in the U.S., noted that cricket could leverage the existing fanbase of baseball, the leading bat-and-ball sport in America, to draw attention and increase its popularity. He compared T20 cricket to Major League Baseball, accentuating that T20 offers an even more action-packed experience, which could appeal to younger American audiences.
Ponting believes that the Olympic Games, with their vast global viewership, will expose cricket to entirely new audiences, contributing to the sport’s growth on an international scale. He also stressed the importance of infrastructure and facilities in supporting the sport’s expansion, noting that team qualification for the Olympics will be highly competitive.
With the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics on the horizon, cricket fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating the sport’s return to the Olympic stage, where it will once again compete for global recognition and glory.