The world may have cast doubts on the future relevance of the ODI format in cricket’s excessively crowded international calendar, but India skipper Rohit Sharma believes it has its own standing and importance in the sport’s landscape.
For Rohit, the 50-over version is far from dead and certainly not “finished” in terms of what it still has to offer to the fans. While cricket’s power players may be holding Tests and the T20Is closer to their hearts right now, Sharma says that doesn’t mean ODIs should not be given their due focus and attention in the decision-making.
Rohit took heart from the fact that the Indian team continues to enjoy an incredible fanbase and has fans filling in stadiums regardless of which format they play, be it at home or away. In an interview with Indian Express, he said he has seen from close quarters how excited fans still feel when they turn up for an ODI with India playing.
“For me, cricket is important – whatever be the format,”
Rohit said, dismissing at his end the concern revolving around the future of the three-format international calendar, with domestic leagues proving a huge threat more than ever.
“I would never say that ODI is getting finished or T20 is getting finished or Tests are nearing an end. I wish there is another format as well, because for me, playing the game is most important. Since childhood, we dreamt of playing the game for India.”
“Whenever we play ODIs, stadiums are full, the excitement remains high. It’s an individual choice as to which format to play or not, but for me, all three formats are important.”
Rohit was echoing his opinion for a format he first played in India colours back in 2007 and went on to establish himself as a bonafide great after being promoted to open ahead of the 2013 Champions Trophy. But the threat to the ODI game has never been more apparent. The talks around the future of the 50-over version have been rife since England’s premier allrounder Ben Stokes retired from the format aged 31 recently to prioritise Tests and T20Is.
Stokes, who said it is “simply unsustainable” for him to give each format its due attention in a highly demanding international itinerary, triggered massive debates on the relevance of the ODI game outside the World Cups.
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With top full members fetching maximum of their broadcasting and sponsorship income out of T20 leagues and bilateral T20Is, which then support the sustenance of Test match cricket, there has been a sharp decline in the number of ODI series scheduled by teams since the end of the 2019 World Cup.
Rohit has played only 18 ODIs since the conclusion of the tournament he top-scored in with five centuries to his name from just nine innings. The India skipper has rested India’s most recent ODI assignments in the Caribbean and Zimbabwe, for which the selectors have named an alternate squad at the heels of the Asia Cup T20I in UAE, with the T20 World Cup in Australia hogging the limelight.
Rohit said his team’s biggest challenge during the Asia Cup will be to adjust to excessive heat in the UAE weather and find their groove immediately after a three-week gap since the end of the T20I series against the West Indies.
“Asia Cup is happening after a long time, but we played Pakistan last year in Dubai, where obviously the result did not go our way. But the Asia Cup is different now. The team is playing differently and has prepared differently, so a lot of things have changed from then.”
“But for us, we need to assess the conditions, keep in mind the fact that we will be playing in 40-plus degrees. We need to assess all those factors and prepare accordingly,”
he added.
