Rahul Dravid Reveals Player Excitement for Cricket in Olympics

An enthusiastic advocate for cricket's inclusion in the Olympics, Rahul Dravid expressed excitement about the sport's debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Dravid, attending a panel discussion in Paris titled "Cricket at the Olympics: Dawn of a New Era," shared insights on players' eagerness to compete in the world's largest sporting event.

Dravid mentioned, "I've already heard a few conversations in the dressing room. People are talking about the 2026 T20 World Cup, there is an ODI World Cup in 2027, and you hear people saying there is the Olympics in 2028." He added that players are keen to win a gold medal and experience the Olympic Village.

Excitement for Olympic Cricket

Dravid hoped India would clinch both men's and women's gold medals at the LA Games. He said, "The dream for me is to have a fantastic cricket tournament, hopefully Indian men and women winning the gold which would be nice." He also wished for Indian fans to support cricket in LA and showcase its significance globally.

During the discussion, Dravid was joined by ICC CEO Geoff Allardice. Reflecting on his childhood, Dravid said, "You grow up watching the Olympics, seeing Carl Lewis winning the gold medal, watching the great athletes perform. You always want to be part of great events like this."

Women's Cricket Progress

Dravid highlighted the growth of women's cricket, noting increased participation by young players. He stated, "Womens cricket is already going forward. I dont think it needs anything else. Its fantastic to have it going on concurrently." He emphasized that cricket is becoming more inclusive and attractive as a potential career.

The men's and women's cricket competitions will run concurrently at the LA Olympics. Dravid joked about his own participation, saying he would try to be in LA in some capacity or another, possibly even securing a media job.

Defending Early Match Starts

Shifting focus to another topic, Dravid defended the timing of matches in the T20 World Cup held in the USA. He was fine with the 10:30 am start time despite some criticism. Dravid remarked, "I dont think starting at 10:30am was a problem for me, honestly. We are in the entertainment business, which caters to people who want to watch the sport."

Dravid explained that early starts ensured fair conditions for both teams by avoiding dew issues common in day-night games. He said, "As a coach, the conditions were quite even because dew becomes a factor in a lot of day-night games."

Growing Cricket's Global Reach

Dravid praised ICC's efforts to expand cricket's reach by hosting matches in the USA. He noted that playing there exposed new audiences to the game and highlighted America's passion for cricket. Some matches saw packed stadiums, reflecting growing interest.

Allardice echoed Dravid's sentiments about cricket's future at the LA Olympics. He said, "Its quite surreal to be here in Paris, seeing the energy around sport and how its getting together. Cricket is starting to dawn on the global sporting community."

Allardice predicted cricket would be a major attraction at the 2028 Games. He added that witnessing global stars from various sports competing together would make LA an exciting venue for sports enthusiasts.

Dravid concluded by expressing optimism about cricket's inclusion in major global events and its potential to inspire future generations of players and fans alike.