• Home
  • Cricket News
  • Cricket Hockey Many India Dominant Sports Disappear From Commonwealth Games 2026

Cricket, Hockey, & Many India-Dominant Sports Disappear From Commonwealth Games 2026

Cricket set to be excluded from CWG 2026 (@indirag63776153/X.com)Cricket set to be excluded from CWG 2026 (@indirag63776153/X.com)

In a major setback for India, the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2026, set to take place in Glasgow, Scotland, will feature a significantly altered sports program, with major implications for India’s medal prospects. Six of the 12 sports in which India won medals at the 2022 CWG, including hockey, cricket, badminton, wrestling, table tennis, and squash, have been removed from the 2026 edition due to cost-saving measures.

Traditionally, India has performed well in the Commonwealth Games. In the previous edition held at Birmingham in 2022, India won 61 medals, including 22 golds. However, for the upcoming edition, the CWG event is undergoing significant change due to lack of financial resources.

Cricket set to be excluded from CWG 2026 

Glasgow stepped in at the last moment to host the event after Victoria backed out due to financial issues, and now the ‘Lite’ version will only include 10 sports, down from the usual 26. Sports such as hockey, cricket, badminton, wrestling, table tennis, and squash were dominated by India massively in the last edition with India’s Women cricket team bagging a silver medal.

Shooting and archery, two other sports where India has traditionally done well, also remain excluded from the 2026 Games, continuing their absence since 2022. Hence, the elimination of these events will severely impact India’s medal tally in Glasgow. 

With the focus shifting to more cost-effective sports, India will face the consequences as the country lacks strong contenders in the remaining events, aside from athletics, boxing, and weightlifting.

Cricket returns to the Olympics after a century

For the upcoming 2028 LA Olympics, Cricket is set to feature for the first time since 1900, thus making a comeback after 128 years. New York City is reportedly pushing for hosting rights after it hosted part of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Besides cricket, baseball, softball, flag football, and squash are some new entries on the Olympic roster.