Cricket’s return to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028 could become one of the most important commercial moves in modern Olympic history, giving the event a direct route to more than two billion fans and the vast Indian media market.
The sport has not appeared at the Olympics since 1900. Its comeback will use the fast-paced Twenty20 format, which typically fits into about three hours and is far easier to schedule than five-day Test matches or full-day one-day internationals.
Why India matters to the Olympics
Cricket dominates sport and entertainment in India. The Indian Premier League has helped turn T20 into a global product, attracting top players, major sponsors and enormous television audiences. Reuters reports that the IPL is valued at about $20 billion and drew roughly 1.2 billion viewers across platforms in 2026.
That scale gives the International Olympic Committee access to younger audiences in regions where the Games have historically had less reach. Nearly half of cricket followers are under 35, according to figures cited by cricket officials.
A long road back
The International Cricket Council gained provisional Olympic recognition in 2007 and full recognition later, but the two movements needed years to align their schedules, commercial interests and competition structures. Reforms allowing host cities to propose additional sports created the opening for Los Angeles.
T20 also makes it possible for more countries to compete. Unlike Test cricket, which is limited to a smaller group of full members, the short format has a wider international field and a stronger pathway for emerging nations.
Commercial and sporting impact
Indian broadcasters are expected to show intense interest in LA28 rights because Olympic coverage can now be paired with the country’s most valuable sport. That could lift the value of Olympic media rights in South Asia and strengthen the Games’ digital audience.
The return may extend beyond Los Angeles. Brisbane, host of the 2032 Games, is in a major cricket nation, while India is pushing Ahmedabad as a candidate for 2036. If the LA28 tournament succeeds, cricket could become a long-term Olympic fixture rather than a one-off addition.
Source: Reuters. Original Scandle Wire summary and analysis.
