THE One-Day International format will struggle for survival and relevance after the 2027 World Cup once its bonafide greatsVirat Kohli and Rohit Sharma decide tocall time,says former India off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

 

While Kohli and Rohit’s participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy has created a lot of buzz, Ashwin believes with the expansion of T20 leagues and Test cricket already having its own currency, the space for 50-overs format is gradually shrinking. “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 said on his Hindi 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,”

 

Ashwin, India’s most astute cricket pundit currently, was categorical in his assessment. India’s second highest wicket taker across formats with 765 scalps, Ashwin voiced his concern over the future of the format once Kohli and Rohit, with a combined total of 86 ODI tons, walk away. “Look, Rohit and Virat cameback to Vijay Hazare Trophy and people started watching it.

 

We have known that sport is always bigger than individuals but at times these players (RoKo) need to come back to make the game relevant,”he observed. “Vijay Hazare Trophy (nationalone-dayers),of course, is a domestic competition that not alot 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.

 

Ashwin spoke about how 50-over was once an “amazing format” that produced a player like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who knew how to control linnings. “One-Day cricket, once upon a time, was an amazing format because it gave a player like MS Dhoni who (would) take singles for 10-15 overs before he went berserk at the end.

 

“You don’t have players like that (Dhoni) anymore and there isn’t any requirement to play like that, as you are playing with two new balls and five fielders in side circle,” said Ashwin, terming modern ODIs is played in two gears -- either a ‘Basha Thon’ or on a slightly difficult wicket means teams are getting out for 120.”