The Indian women’s cricket team poses with their 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medals. (PTI Photo)
New Delhi: The 2026 Commonwealth Games begin on Thursday in Glasgow, Scotland. However, fans will notice that many sports are popular, including cricket. Apart from cricket, hockey, badminton and wrestling, these sports are also missing from this year’s programme.The number of sports has been reduced from 19 at the Birmingham 2022 Games to just 10 in Glasgow. The decision also affected India’s medal hopes, as several of the country’s strongest events were dropped.
Why cricket is not part of Commonwealth Games 2026 In Glasgow?
Cricket was dropped from the Glasgow Games mainly for financial and logistical reasons.The 2026 Commonwealth Games were originally awarded to Victoria, Australia. However, the state government pulled out as host in 2023 due to rising costs.
Glasgow was later confirmed as alternate host in September 2024, leaving organizers with limited time to prepare.To make the Games affordable and sustainable, organizers reduced the number of sports from 19 to 10.
Was cricket part of the Commonwealth Games?
Yes. Cricket made its Commonwealth Games debut at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Games.The competition featured a men’s only ODI format, with 16 teams participating. South Africa, led by Sean Pollock, won the gold medal after defeating Australia in the final.
New Zealand won the bronze medal by defeating Sri Lanka.The West Indies were represented by three separate teams – Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and Jamaica. India also fielded a split national team, while Scotland and Northern Ireland represented the British Isles.Cricket returned after a 24-year break at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, this time as a women’s T20 tournament with eight teams participating.Australia, led by Meg Lanning, won the gold medal. India got the silver, while New Zealand got the bronze.
What sports have been omitted from the 2026 Commonwealth Games?
Nine Birmingham 2022 sports have been removed from the Glasgow programme:
- Cricket game
- Badminton
- Hockey
- pumpkin
- table tennis
- Triathlon
- wrestling
- Beach volleyball
- Rugby sevens
The ten sports at Glasgow 2026 are:
- Athletics
- swimming
- Cycling tracking
- weight lifting
- Basketball 3×3
- Grass bowls
- Netball
- Artistic gymnastics
- Judo
- boxing
A huge blow to India’s medal hopes
This decision represents a major setback for India. India finished fourth at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games with 61 medals. Half of those medals came in sports that are no longer part of the Games.India won:
- 12 medals in wrestling
- 7 in table tennis
- 6 in badminton
- 2 in hockey
- 2 in squash
- 1 in cricket
These six sports alone contributed 30 medals to India’s total tally. Archery and shooting, two other events in which India has traditionally done well, were already absent from the programme.