Ravichandran Ashwin questioned the future of ODI cricket beyond the 2027 World Cup, saying the format’s relevance currently relies heavily on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has raised concerns about the long-term future of One-Day Internationals beyond the 2027 World Cup, suggesting the format is losing audience pull. He believes ODI cricket currently draws interest largely because of senior stars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and questioned what will sustain the format once they step away.
“I am not sure about the future of ODI after the 2027 World Cup. I am a little worried about it. Of course, I am following the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but the manner in which I followed SMAT, I am finding it slightly difficult to follow. Also, we need to know what the audience wants to watch. I feel Test cricket still has space, but ODI cricket, I truly feel it, doesn’t have the space,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’.
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Ashwin then explained how recent examples underline how Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma continue to drive interest in Indian cricket. The Andhra Pradesh Cricket Association noted that ticket demand for the Vizag ODI against South Africa rose sharply only after Virat Kohli scored a century in Ranchi. The pattern repeated in domestic cricket. Rohit Sharma’s appearances in Jaipur attracted large crowds during the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
“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,” Ashwin said.
“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 concluded.
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