In a historic move, cricket will be part of the Olympic Games for the first time in more than 100 years after its inclusion at Los Angeles 2028 was formally ratified by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) members, who voted on Monday during its 141st Session in Mumbai.

Speaking ahead of the IOC vote, Niccolo Campriani, director of LA LOCOG, had said cricket was “easy” to pitch to the IOC as one of the five new sports to be added to LA28. However, the thing which caught everyone’s attention during his historic announcement was none other than Virat Kohli.

Campriani, who won three Olympic gold medals in shooting for Italy, highlighted Kohli’s massive social media presence and called the former Indian cricketer a global phenomenon.

The 35-year-old Kohli, who is an idol for the youth both in India and countries where the game is played, boasts a staggering 340 million social media followers, which makes him the third most-followed athlete in the world.

“We are thrilled to welcome the world’s second-most popular sport with an estimated 2.5 billion fans worldwide. Some of you might be wondering why in LA? Well, the commitment to grow cricket in the US is real, and it’s already happening with the launch of the very first Major League Cricket season earlier this year, which exceeded all expectations. And the [men’s] T20 World Cup in 2024 coming to the US and West Indies,” said Campriani.

“We all recognise the critical importance of a strong digital presence in order to keep the games relevant for the youth. And cricket is offering a unique platform to do so. Think [about] my friend here Virat. He’s the third-most followed athlete in the world on social media with 314 million followers. That’s more than LeBron James, Tom Brady and Tiger Woods combined. This is the ultimate win-win for LA 28.

“The IOC and the cricket community as cricket will be showcased on a global stage to grow beyond the traditional cricket countries, while the Olympic movement gains access to previously untapped communities of athletes and fans. It’s a great example of how one can reach the other,” he added.

The Olympic Games is estimated to have an audience of more than three billion viewers across TV and digital platforms, representing a unique opportunity for cricket to engage new audiences. This will further boost the popular sport’s reach across the world, opening the door to a new generation of cricket enthusiasts and fans.

“We are thrilled that cricket’s inclusion in the LA28 Olympic Games has been confirmed by the IOC Session today. To have the opportunity to showcase our great sport at the LA28 Games and hopefully many Olympic Games to come will be great for players and fans alike,” said ICC Chairman Greg Barclay in a statement.

“I’d like to thank the International Olympic Committee and LA28 for their support and for their trust in our organization’s ability to deliver a world-class event and countless new Olympic fans from all over the world.

The fact that the IOC confirmation of our selection occurred here in Mumbai, during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, is truly icing on the cake. The innings has just begun, and we can’t wait to see where this incredible journey leads,” he added.

Cricket has only been part of the Olympic Games once previously, back in 1900, but the stars of the game will now be able to dream of winning a gold medal at the XXXIV Olympiad.