India women’s cricket team has made it to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side was recently eliminated from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 after losing to Australia in their group stage match. However, the Women in Blue still managed to secure one of the six spots available for the Olympics. The International Cricket Council has announced the qualification scenarios for the biggest sporting event in the world.
The ICC revealed the qualification criteria for cricket’s return to the Olympic Games after 128 years, with six teams each from the men’s and women’s categories set to compete for the medals.
India secured their place as Asia’s highest-placed finisher in the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup. Although the 2025 ODI World Cup champions crashed out of the league stage, they still finished higher than the other Asian nations in the competition.
The newly announced system gives one automatic place to Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania based on their performances in the Women’s World Cup, with each continent getting one representation.
From Oceania, Australia booked their place as they remained unbeaten in the group stage and qualified for the semifinals of the Women’s T20 World Cup. South Africa qualified from Africa, while England earned a spot from Europe.
India, South Africa, Australia and Great Britain (England) are the first four teams to qualify for LA28.
The fifth place could go to the host nation USA if they manage to take their ICC Women’s T20I rankings among the top 15 teams between June 30 and December 31, 2026. However, if the USA fails to hit the mark, the spot will be given to the highest-ranked non-qualified team in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings, with March 1, 2027, being the cut-off date.
The sixth and final spot will be decided with the help of the l ICC Olympics Qualifier in 2027. The eight highest-ranked teams will be a part of the tournament.
The West Indies cannot participate in the Olympics as it is a group of several nations that compete as one team in the ICC events. However, they take part as different countries at the Olympics.
If they are among the non-qualified highest-ranked teams, a Caribbean qualifying tournament will be held to find out which nation goes to the ICC Olympics Qualifier.
ICC chairman Jay Shah reacted to cricket’s return to the Olympics.
“Cricket’s return to the Olympic Games is a landmark moment for our sport and a powerful opportunity to showcase the very best of cricket to the world. The confirmation of this qualification pathway is an important step towards Los Angeles 2028 and gives Members across the world a clear and exciting route to the Olympic stage,” Shah said.
“The Olympic Games represent the pinnacle of multi-event sport, and cricket’s inclusion at LA28 will inspire players and fans in every region. This is an historic moment, and one of great opportunity for our Members, as we continue to grow the game and take it to new audiences around the world.”
ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta opined on the qualification model.
“This qualification structure has been designed to optimise competitive standards and global representation within the IOC and LA28 participation guidelines. We are leveraging the existing ICC elite competition structure and introducing a new qualification event, which adds an exciting new milestone on the journey to LA28,” Gupta said.
The six teams will be divided into groups of three, with the top two nations playing the gold medal match and the third- and fourth-placed outfits competing for the bronze. All the matches will be held at the venue in Pomona.
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