New Delhi: The 2026 Commonwealth Games will begin on Thursday in Glasgow, Scotland. However, fans have noticed that several popular sports, including cricket. Apart from cricket, hockey, badminton and wrestling, they are also missing from this year’s programme.The number of sports has been reduced from 19 for the Birmingham 2022 Games to 10 in Glasgow. The election has also affected India’s medal hopes, as the country’s strongest events have been cancelled.
Why cricket is not part of Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow?
Cricket was removed from the Glasgow game mainly due to financial and logistical reasons.The 2026 Commonwealth Games were originally awarded to Victoria, Australia. However, the state government stopped being a host in 2023 due to rising costs. Glasgow was later confirmed as the replacement in September 2024, leaving organizers with little time to prepare.To make the Games cheaper and more sustainable, the organizers reduced the number of games from 19 to 10.
Was cricket ever part of the Commonwealth Games?
Yes. Cricket made its Commonwealth Games debut at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Games.The tournament featured only the men’s ODI format, with 16 teams participating. South Africa, led by Shaun Pollock, won the gold medal after defeating Australia in the final. New Zealand won the bronze medal by beating Sri Lanka.The West Indies were represented by three different teams – Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and Jamaica. India also sent a divided national team, with Scotland and Northern Ireland representing the British Isles.Cricket returned after 24 years at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, this time as an eight-team women’s T20 tournament.Australia, led by Meg Lanning, won the gold medal. India finished with silver, while New Zealand got bronze.
Which sports have been removed from the 2026 Commonwealth Games?
Nine games from Birmingham 2022 have been removed from the Glasgow programme:
- Cricket
- Badminton
- Hockey
- Squash
- Table tennis
- Triathlon
- Struggle
- Beach volleyball
- Rugby sevens
The 10 Games in Glasgow 2026 are:
- Running games
- Swimming
- Follow the bike
- Lifting weights
- 3×3 basketball
- Leaves of grass
- Netball
- Artistic gymnastics
- Judo
- boxing
A big blow to India’s medal hopes
The idea is very much a return to 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 games alone contributed to 30 medals for all India. Shooting and archery, two other events in which India excelled in the past, were already absent from the programme.
