Former India’s world cup winner Ravi Shastri has suggested that One day format can be reduced to a 40-over game instead of a 50-over to save the format. With the ODI world cup scheduled to be held later this year, it looks like ODI Cricket is losing its significance.
With the emergence of T20 leagues around the world and the introduction of the World Test Championship, Players and fans are more titled towards T20 formats and Test formats. The ODI bilaterals are significantly reduced and players are opting to play in franchise leagues. In a Recent development, England’s World Cup hero Ben Stokes announced a shocking retirement at ODI format at age of 31.
Ravi Shastri, who was part of the Indian team’s World Cup victory for the first time in 1983, pointed out the ODI format was 60 overs then, but now the format is 50 overs and stressed as people’s attention towards the format is reduced its high time to reduce the format to 40 overs. Speaking on star sports, during the 4th test of Border Gavaskar Trophy.
“The reason I say this is because when we won the World Cup in 1983, it was a 60-over (a side) game. Then the attention span of the people diminished and it became a 50-over game. I think the time has come for it to become now a 40-over game. Evolve with the times. Reduce the format,” Shastri said.
The future of ODI cricket has been questioned for a long time. Various experts are giving their opinion on this matter. The ODI world cup scheduled later, this year will give us a proper insight into the format.
T20 Cricket Is The Cash Cow For The Sport – Ravi Shastri
The former Indian coach continued that the T20 format is the key to the world of cricket, as it helps to evolve all over the globe also reckoned the bilateral series between the countries should be reduced and global franchise leagues are big enough to promote the game.
“T20 format I think is the key. It is the injection the game needs to evolve. It’s the cash cow for the sport. But I think there also the bilaterals (series) should be reduced. There are enough domestic leagues around the world that promote the T20 game,” Shastri added.
Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik too opined on this saying the ODI format is losing its charm and that the World Cup in India this year could be the last edition for the format.