(Images Source: Twitter)
[Saba Sports News] Cricket is set to make a historic return to the Olympics at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, marking its first appearance since 1900. The International Olympics Committee officially approved this decision, influenced by the sport’s global success in events like the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
Niccolo Campriani, President of the LA Local Organising Committee, highlighted cricket’s growing popularity in the United States. Factors like the upcoming T20 World Cup, hosted in the USA and the West Indies, and the inaugural Major League Cricket season played pivotal roles in this decision. However, the influence of Virat Kohli, a global cricket ambassador, cannot be understated.
Kohli’s immense popularity on social media, with over 250 million Instagram followers, ranks him third among all athletes globally, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. This digital
presence is crucial to engaging youth audiences, making cricket’s inclusion a win-win for LA 2028.
Cricket is the second-most followed sport globally, with a massive fanbase of 2.5 billion enthusiasts. To illustrate this point, Kohli’s Instagram followers surpass those of prominent athletes like Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Shohei Ohtani, and Patrick Mahomes combined.
Despite these exciting developments, there is a slight downside: Kohli might not participate in the 2028 Olympics due to his transition away from T20Is and his age nearing 40. Nevertheless, cricket’s return to the Olympics is a significant milestone, aligning with the sport’s continued global success.
Previously, Great Britain secured gold in cricket during its last Olympic appearance by defeating France. Additionally, India’s women’s and men’s cricket teams recently claimed gold medals at the Asian Games. The Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022 also featured Indian women securing a silver medal after an intense final against Australia.
Aside from cricket, baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash are the other sports included in the world’s largest sporting event.