Indian cricket stalwart Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced significant apprehension regarding the long-term viability of One-Day International (ODI) cricket, particularly after the retirement of modern-day greats Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The veteran off-spinner suggested the 50-over format may struggle to retain its audience and relevance in the coming years.
The Core Concern: A Format Losing Its Space?
In a candid discussion on his YouTube channel 'Ash Ki Baat', Ashwin, India's second-highest Test wicket-taker with 537 scalps, did not mince words. "I am not sure about the future of ODI after the 2027 World Cup. I am a little worried about it," he stated. While he believes Test cricket will maintain its dedicated following despite the T20 boom, he is uncertain if fans have the appetite for excessive ODI cricket, especially if it comes at the cost of the other two formats.
Ashwin drew a personal comparison, noting that while he followed the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy (SMAT) closely, he found it "slightly difficult to follow" the Vijay Hazare Trophy (the domestic 50-over competition) with the same intensity. This, he implied, reflects a broader trend of shifting viewer preferences.
The "Ro-Ko" Factor: Stars Making the Game Relevant
Ashwin pinpointed the immense drawing power of individuals like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He observed that their recent participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy directly led to increased viewership for the domestic tournament. "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," he remarked.
This observation underscores a critical vulnerability for the format. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket in early 2025 and from T20 Internationals after the 2024 T20 World Cup victory, making ODIs the only international format they currently play. Their eventual exit from the 50-over arena raises a pressing question for Ashwin: "What happens when they stop playing ODIs?"
A Structural Decline Amplifying the Problem
Ashwin's concerns are not isolated. They echo sentiments shared by several former players and are set against a backdrop of a shrinking ODI calendar. The number of bilateral ODI series, especially involving top cricketing nations, has seen a notable decline in recent years.
This very scarcity has practical consequences. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar recently indicated that Kohli and Rohit might need to play in domestic 50-over competitions like the Vijay Hazare Trophy due to the reduced number of international ODI matches. This move, while ensuring match practice for the stars, inadvertently highlights the format's diminishing footprint in the international schedule.
Ashwin, who took 156 wickets in 116 ODIs for India, concluded with a sobering thought: "I feel Test cricket still has space but ODI cricket, I truly feel (it) doesn't have the space." His comments, made on January 1, 2026, serve as a stark warning for cricket's administrators, urging them to critically assess the audience's demand and strategically secure the future of the once-dominant 50-over game before it's too late.
