Captain Suryakumar Yadav said gold in 2028 on cricket’s return to the Olympics was India’s next big aim after extending their T20 domination with back-to-back World Cup titles.
Co-hosts India hammered New Zealand by 96 runs in the final in Ahmedabad to be the first team to retain the T20 world crown and first to win it three times. It was also the first time a team have won the title on home soil, and they did it with a brand of fearless, attacking cricket.
“It has been very special,” Suryakumar said after a win that saw fans across the country flood into the streets. “And definitely the next goal is Olympics – Olympic gold – and also the T20 World Cup that year.”
Los Angeles 2028 will see cricket return to the Olympics for the first time since 1900.
India won the T20 World Cup two years ago in Barbados for their first major title since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
“From there we never looked back,” said Suryakumar. “We played a different brand of cricket in 2024 and from there we understood how this team needs to work [going] forward. And it’s been a wonderful journey since then.”
India won the 50-over World Cup in 2011 at home under MS Dhoni, who led the team to a T20 World Cup in the inaugural edition in 2007. After that was a comparative drought in the biggest events by India’s sky-high standards.
Gautam Gambhir, who succeeded Rahul Dravid as coach after the 2024 World Cup win, said: “I don’t believe in inheriting anything, I believe in creating something. And hopefully we’ve created something which probably all of you guys could be proud of.”
Gambhir praised his team for their “bravery and courage” in racking up big totals.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
