Will T10 format be the future of Cricket in Olympics instead of T20s?

Cricket is set to make a comeback to the Olympics after 128 years. The game was last presented at the quadrennial global gala in 1900. As officially approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in October 2023, cricket will be one of five new sports at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.  

Although there were reports that the matches would be played in the T20 format, there has been no official confirmation in this regard. Discussions and planning for cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Olympics are still ongoing. There were recent reports that former India coach Rahul Dravid has been named in an exclusive panel to discuss the possibility at the historic India House in London.

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Why is there a chance for Olympics to consider T10 format over T20?

While the charm of Test cricket remains intact, the ODI format has been around the debate for some time now, with many calling for a reduction in the number of overs. In parallel, the popularity of T20 cricket around the world rose as the Indian Premier League (IPL) brought about a revolution.

Although The Hundred, a 100-ball tournament organised by England, did not receive the recognition as expected, such initiatives are signs that people are interested in the shorter game. A structure has already been developed and it would not be surprising if the Olympics now opt for the T10 format.

It was learned that the entire cricket event had to be squeezed into a 10-day window at the Olympics. A T20 cricket match lasts at least three and a half hours, while a T10 match takes a maximum of two hours. Since the Olympics is a global event, the organisers are trying to include more teams in the competition. In that case, a 100-ball game would allow more matches to be played in a day.

Furthermore, several other team sports in the international multi-sports event like football and hockey are less than two hours. A T20 match will nearly touch the four-hour mark and there is a chance for the event to go beyond 10 days to complete.  

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