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It’s been a long time coming, but the wait is finally over. For the first time since the Paris Games in 1900, we’re going to see cricket at the Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee officially gave the nod during their 141st session in Mumbai, confirming that the sport will be part of the programme for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
This announcement is a massive development for the world’s second-most popular sport. Read on as we take a look at what to expect when the traditional Olympic audience comes face-to-face with the cricket-obsessed populations of South Asia and beyond.
Which Format Will Cricket at the Olympics Be In?
The version of the game we’ll see in Los Angeles is T20 cricket.
To be fair, this was the only logical choice. Test cricket takes five days, and even ODIs consume the best part of eight hours. Neither of these would work with the tight scheduling of the Olympics.
But T20 offers a punchy, three-hour spectacle, one which fits perfectly into the Olympics environment. The format also aligns with the IOC’s recent push for younger, more urban sports. While Test cricket is still very much about stoicism and nuance, T20 brings more of the loud music, colourful kits, and non-stop action that attracts new fans.
It’s exactly the kind of energy the organisers want, given the event is hosted in the entertainment capital of the world.
A Smart Move on Multiple Fronts
There’s no denying the financial muscle cricket brings to the table.
The sport’s inclusion is a nod to this ecosystem, from huge broadcasting deals to the activity that will be generated on online cricket betting sites. The Asian market, particularly India, is a goldmine that the Olympics has historically struggled to fully tap into. With cricket on the roster, the value of broadcast rights for the 2028 Games in India is expected to skyrocket.
Cricket at the Olympics is also about relevance, as it ensures that the Games are significant to a population of over a billion people.
And then for the United States, this is also a strategic play. The US has been building its own cricket infrastructure over the past decade. Its flagship product – Major League Cricket – has shown there’s an appetite for the sport in America. Hosting the Olympic tournament is an excellent way to take from a niche interest to a mainstream sport for the American public.
The Brutal Road to Qualification
It’s not a given that America themselves will be competing in cricket at the Olympics though.
To keep within the IOC’s strict athlete quotas—which cap the total number of athletes at 10,500—the cricket tournament will likely feature only six teams for both men and women. This makes the qualification process absolutely ruthless, with far fewer teams than the standard World Cup format.
The proposed qualification model relies heavily on continental representation. If the IOC mandates one team per continent plus the host nation, we could see some big names miss out. For example, in the Oceania region, Australia is the heavy hitter. If they take the sole spot, a top-tier nation like New Zealand stays home. Same goes for Asia: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh fighting for potentially one automatic entry? Someone will be disappointed.
What this does mean, is well before the Olympics begin, there will be some fascinating permutations in qualifying. Every match will matter. Particularly to the ‘big three’ boards of India, England and Australia, who are used to automatic qualification for major ICC events.
Who Are the Likely Favourites?
Predicting form three years out is always tricky, but the cricket hierarchy tends to be somewhat stable.
Looking at the men’s competition, India will inevitably be one of the favourites. The depth of talent in the Indian system is frightening; they could field three different T20 sides and all of them would be competitive. They’ll be pretty eager to bag another team sport gold medal too–it’s been almost 50 years since they last got one.
Then you’ve got Australia. The Aussies just know how to win tournaments. It doesn’t matter if they’re out of form or fielding a new lineup; when there’s silverware (or in this case, gold ware) on the line, they turn up.
One of the most interesting prospects is Team GB. In standard cricket, England, Scotland, and Ireland compete separately. But at the Olympics, players from these three countries will unite under the Team GB banner. Imagine a squad featuring the best English power-hitters like Harry Brook or Phil Salt, bolstered by a couple of Scottish and Irish wildcards who’ve been tearing it up on the associate circuit.
On the women’s side, the conversation starts and ends with Australia. They’ve been the most dominant sports team on the planet for the last decade. Beating them to gold will require a near-perfect game from rivals like England or India. That said, the women’s game is evolving, and by 2028, the gap might’ve closed.
What Will Betting on Cricket at the Olympics Look Like?
Betting on cricket at the Olympics will be quite different to normal cricket betting.
That’s because Olympic betting markets behave differently to standard sporting events. Typically the Olympics attract an influx of patriotic punters—those who have no clue about the sport itself, but will back their country blindly. This volume of casual money can skew odds, opening up value for bettors who actually understand cricket.
Also, the six-team format creates a sprint, not a marathon. In a standard league, a team can lose a couple of games and bounce back. In a six-team Olympic tournament, one bad afternoon ends your campaign.
This volatility makes ‘safe’ bets on favourites much riskier. As a result, there should be shorter odds on underdogs, simply because the format encourages upsets. If a team like the USA catches a big nation on an off-day, the upset potential is massive, and the markets will likely reflect that.
The Bottom Line
The inclusion of cricket at the 2028 Olympics is a win-win. The Games get access to a massive, passionate fanbase, while cricket gets a platform to showcase itself to the world.
For the traditionalists, it might take some getting used to. Seeing Virat Kohli or Pat Cummins walking out in an Olympic opening ceremony rather than at Lord’s might feel strange (fingers crossed those two are still around).
But sport evolves. If cricket wants to be a truly global game, it needs to be where the world is watching. In 2028, that place is Los Angeles.
