Sceptical about the way forward for ODIs after the 2027 World Cup, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin says that the format has misplaced its house to mushrooming T20 leagues and an “overkill” of cricket brought on by ICC’s push for a marquee occasion yearly.
Ashwin believes ODIs have turn out to be all however redundant attributable to T20 leagues and the pleasure of place that Check cricket continues to get pleasure from.
“I’m not positive about the way forward for ODI [cricket] after the 2027 World Cup. I’m a bit of frightened about it. In fact, I’m following Vijay Hazare Trophy however the method through which I adopted SMAT, I’m discovering barely tough to comply with,” Ashwin stated on his Hindi YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat.
“Additionally, we have to know what viewers desires to observe. I really feel Check cricket nonetheless has house however ODI cricket, I actually really feel (it) doesn’t have the house,” Ashwin added.
India’s second-highest wicket-taker throughout codecs with 765 scalps, Ashwin stated that for a sport to attach with followers, stars are wanted, and cited the greater than first rate crowd turnout for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s latest Vijay Hazare appearances to drive residence the purpose.
The bonafide greats of the sport have a mixed whole of 86 ODI tons.
“Look, Rohit and Virat got here again to the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and other people began watching it. We now have recognized that sport is at all times greater than people, however at instances these gamers want to return again to make the sport related,” he noticed.
“Vijay Hazare Trophy, after all, is a home competitors that not lots of people comply with, however they did (this time) as a result of Virat and Rohit had been taking part in. Even then, what occurs after they cease taking part in ODIs?” he puzzled.
Altering template of ODI batting
Ashwin spoke about how ODI cricket was as soon as an ‘wonderful format’ that produced a participant like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who knew the way to management the innings as required by the sport.
“One-day cricket, as soon as upon a time, was an incredible format as a result of it gave a participant like MS Dhoni who (would) take singles for 10-15 overs earlier than he went berserk on the finish.
“You don’t have gamers like that (Dhoni) anymore, and there isn’t any requirement to play like that, as you’re taking part in with two new balls and 5 fielders contained in the circle,” stated Ashwin.
Too many World Cups
Ashwin urged the ICC to rethink its scheduling and never be utterly pushed by commerce.
He stated income technology is the first purpose for an ICC occasion going down nearly yearly now. Whereas the 2025 calendar featured the lads’s Champions Trophy and the ladies’s ODI World Cup, in 2026, the T20 World Cup, for each women and men, will happen in numerous slots.
“The ODI format has turn out to be redundant, and to high it, the ICC must see how they’re conducting these World Cups. Yearly, there may be an ICC event for income technology, however then have a look at how FIFA is doing it.
“There are leagues (EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga) occurring, and so they do their World Cup as soon as each 4 years. The World Cup has worth because it’s a marquee event. [But in cricket, there are] too many bilaterals, too many codecs, too many World Cups, so it’s little little bit of an overkill,” he stated.
Answer for ODI cricket’s survival?
Whereas many, just like the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, have steered a split-innings format for one-dayers to revive them, Ashwin stated that having only one 50-over occasion, the World Cup each 4 years, may be a potential choice.
“In case you actually need to make ODI cricket related, then simply play these (T20) leagues and play the ODI World Cup as soon as in 4 years, so when folks flip up for occasions, there might be a way of expectation. I really feel it’s going in direction of gradual loss of life.”
Revealed on Jan 01, 2026