Former cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin is worried about the future of ODI cricket. While talking about this, he said that people started watching Vijay Hazare Trophy matches also when Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma made a comeback in it, so when these legends retire after the 2027 World Cup, its popularity will reduce rapidly. However, Ashwin also suggested how the popularity of ODI cricket can be maintained and how this format can be kept alive.
Ravichandran Ashwin while talking on his YouTube channel said, “Nothing can be said for sure about the ODI format after the ODI World Cup to be held in 2027. I am worried about it. I am following the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but the way I followed the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, it is a bit difficult to follow. There is a need to know what the audience wants. I think there is still room for Test cricket, but I “Looks like there’s no room for ODIs.”
What will happen to ODI after the retirement of Kohli and Rohit?
Ashwin further said, “People saw it when Rohit and Virat came back in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. I always say that the game is bigger than the cricketer, but sometimes these players have to come back to make the game relevant. What will happen when they retire?”
Ashwin further said, “At one time ODI was a great format. It gave players like MS Dhoni who used to take singles for 10-15 overs and then bat stormy in the end. Now you do not have players like Dhoni and there is no need to play like that because now the match is played with 2 balls and there is also a rule of five fielders inside the circle.”
‘ODI series closed, only World Cup should happen’
However, Ashwin not only talked about the concerns but also gave his opinion on how to make ODI cricket important. According to him, ICC should learn from FIFA, ODI series should be stopped and ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy should be organized in just 4 years. Ashwin said, “There are so many leagues in football, but FIFA organizes the World Cup every four years. The World Cup has value.”
Ashwin said, “If you really want to make the ODI format necessary, then the World Cup should be held every four years but there should not be an ODI series, instead a T20 series should be played. With this, the board will also select those players who are doing well in domestic cricket.”

