The future of ODI cricket has become a major talking point, with the 50-over format increasingly finding itself overshadowed by the rise of T20 cricket. Next year’s ODI World Cup could be a defining tournament for the format and its future. At the same time, it could mark the end of an era, with some of the biggest names in the game potentially playing their final World Cup. Virat Kohli is among those whose departure would leave a huge void, further adding to the concerns around ODI cricket. With several senior players nearing the twilight of their careers, the World Cup could be an important moment for the format to regain some of its lost appeal.
That concern, however, does not mean the format is on its way out. ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta believes ODI cricket can continue to survive and thrive, with the format’s future closely tied to the World Cup. He also stressed that the era of “randomly” scheduling bilateral series is over, with greater thought now needed around how the 50-over game is structured. In an interview with PTI, Gupta said the ODI format remains an important part of international cricket, provided its calendar and connection with the World Cup are handled effectively.
"The era of randomly scheduled bilateral series has to come to an end, because countries will not be able to sustain cricket without context, culture, competition and competitiveness, which require significant investment of resources, both financial and non-financial," Gupta told PTI.
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{{/usCountry}}Gupta believes the ODI format can regain its relevance if the right factors are kept at the centre of how the game is planned and presented. He pointed to four key areas that can help drive greater interest and engagement among fans.
"It's important to stay focused on the four levers which drive attention and affiliation—context, culture, competition, and competitiveness - and ODIs can continue not just to survive, but thrive," he added.
“A place for the format in the product portfolio”
The ICC CEO stressed that the format continues to have a clear place in international cricket, particularly because of its strong connection with the World Cup. He also said the focus should now be on defining what the format represents and how it can evolve, including the possibility of expanding participation.
"There is a place for the format in the product portfolio, which is inextricably linked to men's and women's ICC Cricket World Cups. We need to look at what we want the format to stand for and how we want it to evolve, including the expanse of participation," he said.