Cricket Makes Olympic Comeback After 100 Years Due to India's Global Influence

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Rishi Sunak, the former UK Prime Minister, linked cricket's Olympic return after a century to India's rising global influence. Cricket will feature in the Los Angeles 2028 Games, marking its first Olympic appearance since 1900.

Sunak attributed this comeback to India's significant impact worldwide, highlighting the country's growing cultural and sporting influence.

Sunak, a passionate cricket enthusiast, praised the Indian Premier League (IPL) for its transformative role in cricket. "The IPL has transformed cricket. I think every cricketer, everywhere, wants to play in the IPL at some point in their career now. It's also been great for the women's game, getting more girls into the sport through the Women’s Premier League," he noted.

Impact of IPL on Global Cricket

The IPL's influence extends beyond India, affecting English cricket as well. Sunak cited players like Jacob Bethell as examples of this impact. "And just look at the English players who’ve been involved and they’re getting better. I was at Edgbaston last week watching the England vs West Indies ODI. Jacob Bethell played a brilliant innings. The IPL has improved him as a cricketer," he said.

Bethell, representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, scored an impressive 82 off 53 balls in England's commanding 238-run win over the West Indies during their series opener. This performance underscores how participation in the IPL can enhance players' skills and confidence.

Sunak's Support for RCB

Sunak openly expressed his support for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Virat Kohli. He hopes RCB will soon claim their first IPL title after 18 years. "I'll give you a clue — Ee Sala Cup Namde! Hopefully, my pronunciation has improved since I proposed to Akshata 16 years ago in Kannada where, truth be told, I'm not entirely sure she knew what I was talking about!" he shared.

His connection to Bengaluru comes through his wife Akshata Murty, daughter of Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murty. Sunak fondly recalled attending matches with his wife's family and cherishes a Virat Kohli-signed bat gifted by India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during his tenure as Prime Minister.

Cricket as a Diplomatic Tool

Sunak also highlighted cricket's potential as a diplomatic tool. "Cricket is such a helpful diplomatic tool. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia and I have always had great cricket banter, especially during the Ashes series — at one point, it even got a tiny bit heated, but all in a very friendly way," he remarked.

He mentioned his cricket discussions with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi before official meetings. With India touring England this summer, Sunak anticipates that these interactions will further strengthen ties between the two nations.

Sunak's comments reflect how cricket transcends sports to become a cultural and diplomatic bridge between countries. As India continues to exert its influence globally, cricket remains a vital part of its international identity.

With inputs from PTI