Indian cricket legend Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed worries about the future of One Day International (ODI) cricket following the 2027 World Cup jointly hosted by South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Ashwin, the second-highest wicket-taker for India across all formats, believes that the popularity of ODIs is declining due to the rise of T20 leagues and the enduring appeal of Test cricket. He fears that the format may face challenges after modern icons like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retire.
Speaking on his Hindi YouTube channel, ‘Ash Ki Baat,’ Ashwin highlighted the importance of star players like Kohli and Sharma in drawing attention to domestic competitions like the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He emphasized that the presence of such players makes the game more relevant to fans. However, he raised concerns about the future of ODIs once these players step away from the format.
Ashwin also criticized the frequency of World Cup events in cricket, suggesting that hosting them too often for revenue generation diminishes their value and excitement. He proposed a solution to revitalize ODI cricket by recommending that the International Cricket Council (ICC) consider organizing the 50-over World Cup once every four years, similar to FIFA’s approach with the football World Cup.
