R Ashwin’s recent statement on his YouTube stream, labeling ODI cricket as “redundant,” is significant and reflects a deeper sentiment regarding the format’s evolving place in the cricketing landscape. Historically, the 50-over format served as a crucial compromise between the brevity of T20s and the depth of Tests, becoming the mainstay of cricket’s commercial success during the 1990s and 2000s. This was particularly relevant as Test cricket faced a downturn in popularity and financial support. Ashwin’s comment invites reflection on the future relevance of ODIs in the context of changing viewer preferences and the rise of T20 cricket.
Concerns about the survival of the ODI format in modern cricket have resurfaced as the T20 World Cup and IPL are set to dominate the cricket calendar for four consecutive months.
Ashwin’s concerns about the decline in batsmanship against spin have been echoed by former Australia captain Ricky Ponting. In an Idea Exchange last year, Ponting noted that as ODI formats have evolved, influenced by the rise of T20 cricket, the rhythm and tempo of one-day batting have changed. He argued that teams now treat 50-over matches like extended T20 games, resulting in a loss of the traditional skills that characterized the best ODI players.
Since January 1, 2021, India has played the most ODIs among the top cricketing nations with 82 matches, followed by England with 68 and Australia with 64. South Africa has participated in 72 matches, while New Zealand played 75. Concerns arise due to a reduced number of ODIs and inconsistent scheduling.
Since January 1, 2021, India has played 126 T20Is, while England and Australia have each played 88. South Africa participated in 73, and New Zealand in 109 T20Is, indicating a rise in T20I matches compared to ODIs in non-World Cup years.
Different countries prioritize cricket scheduling differently, with India focusing on ODIs for commercial benefits due to star players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. In contrast, other nations are emphasizing Test cricket and T20Is more significantly.
Chief among Ashwin’s concerns regarding One Day Internationals (ODIs) is their diminishing relevance to cricket administrators, exacerbated by the excessive staging of multi-team tournaments. He criticizes the yearly ICC tournaments aimed at revenue generation, stating there are “too many bilaterals, too many formats, too many World Cups.” The irregular scheduling of ODIs is evident, as teams tend to only play them in the run-up to a World Cup, evidenced by India’s 35 ODIs in 2023—World Cup year—compared to just three in 2024.
Australia played 22 ODIs in 2023, decreasing to 11 in 2024. England’s ODIs dropped from 24 in 2023 to only 8 in 2024, while South Africa went from 25 to 9. In contrast, New Zealand increased their ODIs from 10 in 2023 to 15 in 2024.
T20 leagues, such as the IPL and Big Bash League, have rapidly expanded globally and are occupying significant calendar space. IPL matches have sharply increased over the past five years, and with IPL owners investing in the SA T20 league, ongoing growth in this competition is anticipated.
ODIs may not go extinct but could lose relevance, risking their status as a year-round format due to the overshadowing popularity of T20; they may only remain significant during high-profile events like the World Cup without intentional restructuring.
