As the clock ticks towards the ICC World Cup in India this October, the cricketing world is gearing up for a year of intense 50-over action. But as the tournament draws to a close, some are predicting a gloomy future for the ODI format.
Like a storm cloud on the horizon, the whispers of ODI cricket’s demise have grown louder. Players such as Ben Stokes and Aaron Finch have retired from the format to focus on Tests and T20Is, while experts like Ravichandran Ashwin and Aakash Chopra have spoken out about the format’s perceived “boring nature.”
Now, former Indian opener Robin Uthappa has added his voice to the chorus of critics. The 37-year-old, who recently retired from the Indian Premier League, has been making waves in the inaugural ILT20 league, where he currently is the third-highest run-scorer in the league with 122 runs.
According to Uthappa, the ODI format just doesn’t have the same appeal as it once did. “In today’s fast-paced world, who has the time to invest seven hours in a game?” he said. “I believe the T20 and T10 formats are the way of the future, while the ODIs will slowly fade away.”
Uthappa’s words may be harsh, but they reflect a growing sentiment that the ODI format just isn’t resonating with audiences in the same way that T20 and T10 cricket are. As the cricketing world looks ahead, it will be interesting to see if the ODI format can stage a comeback. Or, it will be interesting to see if it indeed disappears the way of the dinosaurs.