Cricket Becomes Sport’s Next Big Thing: Olympics, Investors, and America’s Role

Cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics marks a watershed moment for a sport that has captivated billions across Asia, the Caribbean, and beyond. For over a century, cricket remained absent from the Olympic stage—its last appearance was in the 1900 Paris Games, where only Great Britain and France competed. Now, as the sport prepares for its grand Olympic return, a perfect storm of investor interest, American market expansion, and global strategic alignment is transforming cricket into what many consider sport’s next big thing.

The Historic Olympic Return: More Than Just Nostalgia

When the International Olympic Committee officially approved cricket for the LA28 Summer Games, the announcement sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, particularly in India, where the sport transcends mere entertainment to become part of the national identity. The decision represents far more than correcting a 128-year-old oversight—it signals cricket’s evolution from a Commonwealth-centric pastime into a truly global commercial powerhouse.

The format chosen for Olympic competition—T20 cricket—demonstrates the sport’s adaptability to modern audiences. Unlike traditional Test matches, which can last five days, or even One-Day Internationals spanning eight hours, Twenty20 cricket condenses the game’s drama into approximately three hours of explosive action. This format has already proven its mass appeal through tournaments like the Indian Premier League and ICC T20 World Cup, making it perfectly suited for Olympic audiences unfamiliar with cricket’s nuances.

For Indian cricket fans planning to witness this historic moment, Barry’s Ticket Service offers comprehensive guides to experiencing cricket at the LA28 Games, including detailed information about the venue and ticketing processes.

Why Investors Are Rushing Toward Cricket

The financial landscape surrounding cricket has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past two decades. What was once considered a niche market dominated by subcontinental audiences has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry attracting serious investment from global sports conglomerates, private equity firms, and entertainment giants.

The Indian Premier League stands as cricket’s crown jewel of commercialization. Launched in 2008, the IPL has grown into one of the world’s most valuable sports leagues, with franchise valuations regularly exceeding $1 billion. The league’s media rights for 2023-2027 sold for a staggering $6.2 billion, demonstrating cricket’s monetization potential when packaged correctly for modern audiences.

This success hasn’t gone unnoticed by multi-sport investors. Major League Cricket’s establishment in the United States, backed by significant investment from IPL team owners and American venture capital, represents a calculated bet on cricket’s future in America. Companies like Endeavor (owner of UFC and part-owner of WWE) have invested in cricket properties, recognizing the sport’s potential to capture demographics that traditional American sports struggle to engage.

Private equity’s interest in cricket extends beyond traditional team ownership. Investment funds are backing cricket academies, digital platforms, women’s cricket leagues, and infrastructure projects across multiple continents. The sport’s inclusion in the Olympics serves as validation for these investments, providing a global stage that enhances cricket’s prestige and mainstream acceptance.

America’s Unlikely but Strategic Role 

The United States is an improbable catalyst for cricket’s global expansion. Yet, America’s role proves crucial to the sport’s next chapter. The 2024 ICC T20 World Cup’s decision to host matches in the United States, including a purpose-built stadium in New York, demonstrated cricket’s growing ambitions in America. Despite limited domestic infrastructure and minimal mainstream awareness, the U.S. market offers something cricket desperately needs: growth potential.

America’s massive sports economy, sophisticated broadcasting infrastructure, and diverse immigrant population create ideal conditions for cricket’s expansion. The South Asian diaspora alone numbers over 5 million people, providing a built-in fan base. Add Caribbean, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Afghan, and British communities, and cricket suddenly has millions of potential American fans already familiar with the sport.

Major League Cricket’s inaugural 2023 season, although modest in scale, marked a significant milestone. Six franchises competed across American cities with substantial South Asian populations, attracting respectable attendance and digital viewership. More importantly, MLC demonstrated that cricket could function within the American sports ecosystem—securing broadcast deals, attracting sponsors, and generating media coverage alongside established leagues.

The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles amplify this trajectory exponentially. Cricket matches will be held at a specially prepared venue, introducing the sport to American audiences during the world’s premier sporting event. For a nation that treats Olympic success as a matter of national pride, seeing cricket contested for medals will elevate the sport’s profile in ways that decades of grassroots development alone couldn’t achieve.

India’s Central Position in Cricket’s Evolution

No discussion of cricket’s commercial ascendance is complete without acknowledging India’s overwhelming influence. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) effectively serves as the sport’s economic engine, generating revenue that surpasses that of all other cricket nations combined. India’s 1.4 billion population, passionate cricket culture, and growing middle class create an unparalleled market that drives broadcasting deals, sponsorships, and franchise valuations.

The IPL’s success fundamentally altered cricket’s economic model. By creating a franchise-based league prioritizing entertainment value alongside sporting merit, the IPL demonstrated that cricket could generate football-level revenues with proper packaging. The league’s opening ceremony rivals Bollywood productions, matches feature fireworks and celebrity performances, and team ownership includes some of India’s wealthiest industrialists and entertainment figures.

This commercial sophistication is also evident in India’s approach to international cricket. The BCCI’s financial power enables it to influence the international cricket calendar, tournament formats, and revenue distribution. While this concentration of power occasionally generates controversy, it also ensures cricket remains commercially viable at the global level.

India’s response to cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics was predictably enthusiastic. For a nation that has historically struggled to win Olympic medals in proportion to its population, cricket’s inclusion offers genuine hope for podium success. Indian cricket officials immediately began discussing preparation strategies, with speculation about whether established international stars would participate or whether a dedicated Olympic team would be assembled.

The Challenges Ahead

Despite the optimism surrounding cricket’s return to the Olympics and its commercial expansion, significant challenges remain. The sport’s governance structure, which is fragmented among international, national, and franchise interests, sometimes creates conflicts that hinder strategic decision-making. Questions about player availability persist, as lucrative franchise leagues compete with international commitments for the time and energy of elite players.

Cricket’s Olympic format also presents complications. With only T20 cricket included and likely limited to a small number of competing nations, the Olympic tournament won’t represent cricket’s full global reach or its traditional formats. Some purists worry that Olympic success in T20 cricket might further marginalize Test cricket, the sport’s oldest and most prestigious format.

The American market, while promising, remains unproven. Building sustainable interest among audiences with no cultural connection to cricket requires more than hosting occasional high-profile tournaments. It demands grassroots development, youth programs, broadcasting accessibility, and perhaps most importantly, time—something investors expecting quick returns may not readily provide.

Looking Toward 2028 and Beyond

As cricket approaches its 2028 Olympic moment, the sport stands at a crossroads between tradition and transformation. The Olympics offer unprecedented exposure to new markets, particularly in the United States, while validating cricket’s status as a major global sport worthy of Olympic inclusion.
For investors, the trajectory appears promising. Cricket’s demonstrated monetization success in India, combined with expansion into new markets and formats, suggests significant upside potential. The sport’s youthful demographics in key growth markets and relatively early-stage commercialization in regions like the United States present opportunities for substantial returns.

America’s initially peripheral role proves increasingly central to cricket’s global strategy. The world’s largest sports economy not only provides a new market but also serves as a testing ground for innovations that could reshape cricket globally. American sports’ expertise in league structures, broadcasting production, and fan engagement could enhance cricket’s product in ways traditional cricket nations might not have pursued independently.

As fans from India and around the world prepare to descend on Los Angeles in 2028, cricket’s return to the Olympics represents more than nostalgia—it marks the sport’s arrival as a truly global commercial force. The combination of Olympic prestige, investor confidence, American market potential, and India’s continued passion creates momentum that could carry cricket to heights its founders never imagined when the sport last appeared at the Olympics 128 years ago.

The next big thing in sports might be cricket’s oldest dream finally realized: recognition as a global game worthy of the world’s biggest sporting stage.