LA28 sees cricket return to the Olympics after 128 years, a historic global comeback with equal focus on the men’s and women’s tournaments, thrilling fans around the world.
Cricket is back at the Olympics—and it’s bigger, bolder, and more global than ever. After 128 years of absence, cricket will finally be reintroduced into the Olympics program in Los Angeles 2028 (LA28). The comprehensive timetable, which was announced by the LA28 Organizing Committee on 14 July, gives a preview of an action-packed summer festival of the sport in the City of Angels.
The event is a pride of the cricket fans and the entire field since it puts it at the front line of one of the most reputed sporting events in the world.
Cricket at LA28: Key Dates & Structure
The estimated start date and end date of the LA28 Olympic Games are 14 July 2028 and 30 July 2028, respectively. Cricket, though, will start two days later, at the very end of the so-called Minus 2 session, on 12 July 2028.
Here’s a breakdown of the cricket competition timeline:
- First round of matches: July 12–18
- First Medal Match: July 19
- Second round of matches: July 22–28
- Cricket Final (Medal Match): July 29
- Closing Ceremony of LA28: July 30
Where Will the Matches Be Played?
All cricket events in LA28 will be played in the Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium in Pomona, around 48 kilometers away from downtown Los Angeles.
It is a designed arena that was constructed with the sole aim of hosting the sport in a highly superior facility that, most importantly, was to be hosted on a large platform. The location, which is famously known as the venue of the LA County Fair, is currently being reused for one of the most hyped Olympic comebacks.
The large facility will be expected to house large crowds and offer high-quality environs that can be watched globally. In addition to serving as a simple home base of athletic events, the stadium has also served as a reminder of the worldwide dominance of cricket, as well as the boosted popularity of the sport in the American sports community.
Men’s and Women’s Tournaments: Equal Spotlight
In line with the Olympic spirit of equality, the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games will allow the same six-team event in both women’s and men’s cricket.
Even though the exact order of fixtures is nowhere disclosed so far, i.e., whether the men will play their matches before the women or the women before the men, the organizing committee has made it clear that more information will be revealed as they get further into 2025.
It is a popular hope that the two tournaments will run simultaneously, thus giving both formats an equal amount of exposure and importance and bringing two sources of excitement through the cricketing year.
What This Means for Indian Cricket
The inclusion of cricket back in the Olympic Games in 2028 has sparked interest once again throughout India, not only because it is a country whose interest in cricket cannot be rivaled but also because it is a documented fact.
Although they have previously declined due to organizational issues and governance, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI, commonly referred to as BCCI) seems willing to support this move and take part in all aspects. In case the Indian squad of men and women face each other, their medal hunt is bound to turn into one of the key storylines of the Los Angeles Games. A billion Indian hearts will, quite likely, beat in excitement of the first-place finishes as 2028 rolls around.
Why LA28 Cricket Matters—More Than Just a Game
The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will feature cricket, and this is not just a mere re-entrance of cricket to the Olympics; it is an event, a point of departure in terms of the globalization of cricket. Ventures that started on the undulating fields in the English countryside have grown up in the subcontinent and are now gaining sizeable headway in North America.
It is even more than runs and wickets, as this Olympic carries cultural and continental discourse, as Mumbai becomes related to Melbourne, Karachi to Kingston, and London to Los Angeles. It marks the growing influence of cricket, opening up to new fans, new talent, and hundreds of new stories yet to be told. Cricket is finally given the prominence it deserves through being a part of the Olympics, which is considered to be the highest point of international athletics. With a gap of 128 years, the sport is back in the Olympic annals, and it is a matter of deep pride and hope that it happens to millions of people who have long adored cricket till the present generation.
