Cricket & archery well placed for Commonwealths spot
Cricket, archery and shooting are among the leading candidates to return to the Commonwealth Games programme when India hosts the 2030 event in Ahmedabad. Their inclusion would reflect India’s sporting strengths and could help broaden the Games after Glasgow 2026 used a reduced programme following Victoria’s withdrawal as host.
Only 10 sports are being staged in Glasgow, but organisers plan to increase this to 17 for the centenary Games in Ahmedabad, while keeping costs controlled. Cricket last appeared at Birmingham 2022 as a women’s T20 competition, and at least two team sports are expected to be added alongside possible candidates including hockey and rugby sevens; no final decisions have been made.
- Cricket, archery and shooting could return in 2030.
- Ahmedabad plans a 17-sport Commonwealth Games programme.
- India’s 2030 Games may support its Olympic ambitions.
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The Commonwealth Games is an international sporting event for athletes from Commonwealth countries, a group of nations mostly with historical ties to Britain. Like the Olympics, the Games feature multiple sports, though the programme changes with each event depending on the host nation.
When Glasgow hosts in 2026, the Games will be smaller than usual because Australia's Victoria had to withdraw as the original host. Plans for the 2030 Games in Ahmedabad, India, involve a larger programme of 17 sports for what will be the centenary Games, whilst trying to keep costs manageable.
Cricket, archery, and shooting are among the leading candidates for inclusion at the 2030 Games, reflecting India's sporting strengths. Cricket last featured at the 2022 Games in Birmingham as a women's tournament, and organisers expect at least two team sports to be added, with hockey and rugby sevens also under consideration, though no final decisions have been made.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Including cricket, archery and shooting could make the Ahmedabad Games more relevant to Indian audiences and showcase sports in which India has strong participation and success. Expanding the programme from Glasgow’s reduced line-up would also restore breadth to the Games and give more athletes and team sports a chance to compete.
The case against
A larger programme could make the Games harder to deliver affordably, especially after the cost pressures that led to Glasgow’s reduced line-up. Organisers may therefore favour a tighter selection of sports with broad Commonwealth appeal and manageable costs, rather than adding events mainly to reflect the host nation’s strengths.