In a significant development for enthusiasts, cricket will be included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, featuring six teams in both the men's and women's tournaments. This announcement was made on Wednesday, and the matches will be conducted in T20I format. Each team is permitted to have a squad of 15 members, with the International Olympic Committee allocating a total of 90 athlete spots for each gender.

Cricket is one of five new sports set to debut at the forthcoming Olympics, alongside baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash. The specific venues for cricket have yet to be determined, and the schedule will be revealed closer to the official start of the Games.

When was cricket last played at the Olympics?

Cricket was featured in the 1900 Summer Olympics as a men's event, with only two teams participating; Great Britain triumphed over France. The sport was initially scheduled for the first Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens, but it was canceled due to insufficient entries.

In the 1900 competition, the French team was primarily composed of English expatriates and was officially recognized as a mixed team. The match lasted two days and consisted of two innings per side, with each team fielding 12 players. Great Britain secured victory by 158 runs, earning the gold medal. Notably, if France had managed to hold on for just five more minutes, the match would have ended in a draw.

Cricket was also planned for the 1904 Olympics, but it was again canceled due to a lack of participants.

Recently, Virat Kohli expressed his thoughts on the matter, stating, “I think it's a great thing. To be Olympic champions would be an absolutely magnificent feeling. It would be the first of its kind, and I'm sure we'll be close to that medal. It’s a wonderful opportunity for some of our players.”

He further acknowledged the Indian Premier League (IPL) for contributing to cricket's inclusion in the Olympics. “I believe the IPL has played a significant role in this development. It has elevated cricket to a level where it is now part of the Olympics. This presents a fantastic opportunity for some of our players. Becoming an Olympic champion would be an extraordinary achievement, the first of its kind,” he remarked.

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