Cricket is undoubtedly the most popular and revered sport in India. Some even call it a religion. With India’s recent T20 World Cup victory, we saw how much the sport means to the public as the fans poured out in the streets in thousands to celebrate the triumph along with the players in Mumbai. It was quite a spectacle.
But despite being the second-largest sport in the world in terms of viewership, cricket isn’t a common sport. To make it global, the ICC even tried to host the recent T20 World Cup in the USA, but the effects of that are yet to be seen. What really held cricket back was its omission from the Olympics, the biggest sporting event in the world. It won’t hold cricket back anymore, as just last year, cricket was given a green light, and the sport is returning to the LA 2028 Olympics in the T20 format.
Four years waiting and Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja gone, what’ll the India cricket team’s squad look like at the LA 2028 Olympics? Most of the squad from the triumphant 2024 T20 World Cup campaign would remain in the side, but changes are bound to happen. While we can’t predict the future, we can certainly make an educated guess based on performance, potential, and reputation.
Shubman Gill, captain?
The BCCI has already made Shubman Gill India’s white-ball vice-captain, and by 2028, he’ll be 28 and at the peak of his powers. It’s safe to assume that he’d be the captain of the side at the LA 2028 Olympics. The batting order won’t change much. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and Rinku Singh will be there. Surya would be 38 by then, but given how fitness is improving day by day, it won’t be an issue.
Given how fast-scoring T20 cricket is becoming, Abhishek Sharma would also be there. The southpaw scores rapidly, especially in the powerplay, and offers handy left-arm spin as well. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson would be going as reserves. Gaikwad can’t break into the side with Gill and Jaiswal present, while Samson will continue to be the perpetual bench warmer with Pant present.
Nitish Reddy for Shivam Dube
We’ve seen Shivam Dube enough on the international stage that we know that Nitesh Reddy is a better version of him. Nitish would be 25 by the time the LA 2028 Olympics starts and would have made improvements in both the batting and bowling departments. Unlike Dube, whose batting sees peaks and valleys, Reddy seems like a consistent run-scorer. He bowls faster than Dube and even has a good enough first-class record to show that he can give you good 4-over spells from time to time.
Hardik Pandya would be there, fitness permitting, with Axar Patel and Washington Sundar as the two spin all-rounders. Riyan Parag would miss out; he can’t find a place in the squad as a batter alone, and his bowling isn’t on the level of others like Reddy or Pandya.
No Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, or Mayank Yadav in fray
Mohammed Siraj hasn’t developed the way the management or fans would want him to. He hasn’t been able to lead the bowling line-up in Mohammed Shami or Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, and he has shown nothing to signal that he can in the future either. Arshdeep Singh would take his place, and one of Mayank Yadav or Harshit Rana is expected to be there as middle-over enforcers. Avesh Khan and Mohsin Khan would be the backups for the third pacer role in case of an injury.
In the spin department, Ravi Bishnoi and Kuldeep Yadav will be there. With Washington and Axar on the squad, you don’t really need any backups for them. Two wrist spinners and two finger spinners give the flexibility required, and four spinners should be more than enough for any venue in the world.
India’s Probable Squad for LA 2028 Olympics
Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mayank Yadav/Harshit Rana.
Reserves: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag, Avesh Khan/Mohsin Khan.
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