With empty stadiums in the Champions Trophy 2025 and a decline in viewership, it's evident that the ODI format is losing its shine. What changes can be made to revive interest in ODIs?
The return of the Champions Trophy 2025 was meant to be a revival for ODI cricket, but if we're being honest, it's starting to look like a bit of a ghost town. The format seems almost on life support. Teams aren’t exactly bringing their A-game, the ICC isn’t raking in the big bucks, stadiums are emptier, and the cricket fans do not seem much for watching a 50-over match.
When a top-tier English all-rounder Ben Stokes hangs up his ODI boots in 2022, citing that the format is "unsustainable" amidst an overcrowded schedule, you know things are getting serious. That same year, South Africa decided to skip their ODI tour of Australia, choosing their domestic T20 league instead, even if it meant risking a World Cup qualification spot.
ODI cricket seems stuck in a bit of an identity crisis. It hasn’t quite captured the pure love of Test cricket, nor does it bring in the revenue that the high-octane, three-hour T20 games do. The decline in bilateral ODIs is a loud wake-up call—the format needs a serious makeover, or it might just end up as a relic in cricket’s history books.
Ex-cricketers sound alarm: Is the game losing its spark?
In the latest development, former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin aimed at the ICC, suggesting that the introduction of five fielders inside the circle and the use of two balls in the 50-over format were tactics to diminish the spin advantage traditionally held by teams like India. The bold claims came during his 'Ash Ki Baat' segment on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin went on to express his concern about the increasingly lacklustre group-stage matches in the ongoing Champions Trophy. "Before this Afghanistan vs England game, I was honestly wondering if there's any future for ODI cricket," Ashwin admitted.
He further elaborated on the evolution of ODI cricket, noting, "In ODI, there’s no contest anymore. Up until 2013-14, ODI cricket was played with just one ball. Then, in 2015, they brought in the new rule allowing five fielders in the circle and introduced two balls. In my opinion, that change was aimed at neutralising India’s dominance in spin bowling. I truly believe it has had a massive impact on the game. The reverse swing has disappeared, and the role of finger spin has been significantly reduced."
"The 50-over format is at a crossroads. The game is slowing down, dragging on. It raises the question: does the 50-over format still have a place in modern cricket? Honestly, until this Afghanistan vs England game, this Champions Trophy felt so monotonous," he concluded. "There was a time when ODIs were played with the red ball. Maybe it’s time we really start thinking seriously about the future of this format."
Even England's white-ball captain Jos Buttler admitted that the 50-over game has been pushed to the margins and is struggling to survive because of franchise cricket, which has caused scheduling issues for ODIs. Read More: CT25: Pakistan eliminated in group stage from home ICC event - All that's wrong with their cricket
Empty stands and silent cheers: What’s driving fans away?
Talk about the India team, loved by cricket fans across the globe. One would expect a packed stadium whenever they play. Well, not exactly. When India faced Bangladesh in their first match of the tournament, only about 10,000 spectators showed up at the Dubai stadium, which can hold around 25,000, according to several media reports.
It wasn’t just India’s match, either. Even the opening game between Pakistan and New Zealand saw a surprisingly low turnout. Former England captain Michael Vaughan took to X to share his disbelief about the empty stands. He jokingly wondered if the Pakistan Cricket Board had forgotten to tell the locals about the match.
"Great to see the champions trophy being played in Pakistan .. It's the first major event since 1996. Have they forgotten to tell the locals it’s on .. Where is the crowd ?? ChampionsTrophy2025," wrote Vaughan on X.
Read More: From being white-ball world champions in 2022 to being also rans by 2025: England's tragic story
The road ahead: Can cricket overcome its latest challenges?
Since the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, the eight teams in the Champions Trophy have played 229 T20Is but only 101 ODIs. India, for example, has played just 9 ODIs since the last World Cup. Now, you might think it’s time to declare the ODI format officially "dead," but let’s not jump to conclusions just yet.
The 2023 World Cup in India was a reminder of what ODIs can still offer. It gave us some thrilling contests, unexpected upsets, and top-notch cricket that brought back memories of why 50-over cricket once ruled the roost. The 2019 World Cup was equally captivating.
But one thing is for sure, the road ahead won’t be a smooth ride for the ICC. Whether it’s playing with the red ball again or tweaking the rules that both past and present players have been suggesting, the Council is going to have to do something to keep the ODI format from fading into oblivion. If not, it might just have to say a "bye-bye" to the old format and embrace the future.
When the greatest ODI batter of all time speaks up about the format’s struggles, the cricket world pays attention. In 2023, Sachin Tendulkar didn’t hold back, calling ODI cricket "too predictable" and "boring." When he says that, you know it's not just a passing comment; it’s the cricket world listening closely. Read More: Champions Trophy 2025: Afghanistan miss out on SF berth, but leave an imprint yet again
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