R Ashwin fears that ODI cricket will lose its appeal and struggle to draw fans after the ODI World Cup 2027. Speaking on ‘Ash ki Baat’ , said that Test cricket will find its audience and T20 will remain a popular format, but ODIs, sandwiched between the two formats, may find it hard to sustain.
Since the 2019 World Cup, teams have reduced the number of ODIs they play in a year. Many prominent names have also decided to retire from the ODI to prolong their Test and T20 careers.
“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,” Ashwin, India’s second highest Test wicket-taker of all time with 537 scalps, said on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’.
“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,” said Ashwin, who also took 156 wickets in 116 ODIs.
What Happens When Virat, Rohit Are Gone?
Ashwin said that players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma can pull the fans to the stadium or TV screen, even in domestic tournaments, but once they are gone, the future of ODI cricket will be dark.
“Look, Rohit and Virat came back to Vijay Hazare Trophy and people started watching it. We have known that sport is always bigger than individuals but at times these players (Ro-Ko) need to come back to make the game relevant,” he observed.
“Vijay Hazare Trophy (national one-dayers), of course, is a domestic competition that not a lot of people follow, but they did (so now) because Virat and Rohit were playing. Even then, what happens when they stop playing ODIs?” he wondered.