Jay Shah hints at India hosting 2036 Olympics, urges preparations

March 15, 2026

New Delhi: Jay Shah on Sunday dropped a hint over the country hosting the 2036 Olympics and added that India should prepare well for hosting the biggest event in the sporting world. Shah gave out this subtle hint at the Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI) National Convention in New Delhi on Sunday.

“You all know that when I was in BCCI, I prepared till 2028. Fortunately, I got a good result. But the team of BCCI is sitting here. You all should prepare for the Commonwealth Games of 2030. You all should prepare for the Brisbane Olympics of 2032, and you all know where the Olympics of 2036 is coming. You all should prepare for that too,” he said.

Reflects on golden era of Indian cricket

Shah, who moved from being the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary to heading the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2024, used the occasion to reflect on a transformative period for Indian cricket from 2019 to 2026.

“From 2019 to 2026, that time was very important for BCCI and India. Today, I congratulate everyone. We won two Under-19 Women’s World Cup titles and two Under-19 Men’s World Cups.

“We were runners-up twice in the WTC (World Test Championship). We were runners-up once in the Men’s ODI World Cup and won the women’s one too. We won the T20 World Cup twice, and we also won the Champions Trophy. That is why the time from 2019 to 2026 was a golden time for all of us, and you all played a big role in that.”

Praises teams and recalls historic 2001 Test

Shah also paid tribute to India’s performance at the recently concluded T20 World Cup while congratulating other teams.

“The T20 World Cup has just ended. India had a great performance. For that, I congratulate the entire Indian team. Along with that, England and South Africa were unbeaten before the semifinals, and for that, I congratulate those two teams. Also, to the New Zealand team, in front of South Africa, they achieved victory and reached the final, and we congratulate the New Zealand team for the character they have shown.

He also reserved special praise for associate nations such as the USA, Netherlands, Nepal and Zimbabwe for their impressive performances during the tournament.

Shah further noted that the tournament broke several viewership records and praised the contribution of the media in promoting the sport. He also recalled the iconic 2001 Test victory at Eden Gardens, when VVS Laxman scored 281 and Rahul Dravid scored 180 to help India defeat Australia in a historic comeback.