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One-Day International (ODI) cricket may not last past the 2027 World Cup, according to former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has voiced serious reservations about the sport's future. He pointed out that ODIs might be overshadowed by the continued attractiveness of Test cricket and the rising popularity of T20 leagues.
Ashwin worries that the format's relevance is waning despite the excitement created by their recent performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Ashwin, India's second-highest wicket-taker across formats with 765 wickets, thinks the once-loved game will have its own existential crisis after contemporary icons like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retire.
Ashwin addressed the shifting focus in the cricketing world, stating, "I am not sure about future of ODI after 2027 World Cup. I am a little worried about it. Of course, I am following Vijay Hazare Trophy but the manner in which I followed SMAT, I am finding slightly difficult to follow," he said on his Hindi YouTube channel 'Ash Ki Baat'.
He continued, "Also, we need to know what audience wants to watch. I feel Test cricket still has space but ODI cricket, I truly feel (it) doesn't have the space."
According to him, the existence of the format's contemporary icons is crucial to its basis, and their eventual departure could indicate a significant change in the game's appeal.
Ashwin specifically worries that once Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have a combined record of 86 ODI hundreds, decide to hang up their boots, the 50-over format will lose its competitive edge and draw. Ashwin believes that the departure of these two titans poses a threat to the format's continued significance rather than merely a personnel shift.
Ashwin also shared his thoughts on the ICC event schedule. He feels that the cricket authorities should take a cue from FIFA because holding World Cups on a regular basis to generate money is destroying the tournament's enthusiasm and worth. In the future, the off-spinner also provided answers to the decline in ODIs. Ashwin proposed that the ICC consider holding the World Cup, a single 50-over competition, every four years.
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