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Ravichandran Ashwin suggests using the red ball in ODIs to boost competitiveness and crowd engagement, believing the 50-over format needs revitalization compared to Tests and T20Is.
Ravichandran Ashwin.
Recently retired India great Ravichandran Ashwin wants ODIs to be played with the red ball, which is used in Test cricket, instead of the incumbent white rock. He believes the 50-over format is falling behind Test and T20Is due to a lack of competitiveness and crowd engagement, saying that it needs to be quickened up.
The debate about ODI’s future in a world where Test cricket gets value for its heritage and T20 for its ability to attract new audiences is an old one. It has been reignited recently during the ongoing 2025 Champions Trophy as host nation Pakistan has failed to attract full-house crowds in most games.
“Before this Afghanistan versus England match, I was wondering whether there is any future for ODI cricket. Let’s be very honest with it. In T20Is, there is so much crowd engagement, and consumption is high because it ends inside four hours. I feel Test cricket will excel more once the first-class structure of teams like Afghanistan improves,” Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel on on Friday.
“But in ODIs, there is no contest. Until 2013-14, ODI cricket was played with one ball. Before 2015, the new rule was implemented where five fielders were allowed in the circle, and two balls were introduced. I think in many ways that rule was meant to nullify India’s spin domination. That is just my take,” Ashwin added.
“I think that is impacting the game massively because reverse swing is gone from the game now. The role of finger spin has also been reduced. The 50-over World Cup (2027) in South Africa is going to be a real challenge for the ICC. It is on the brink of a decision being made because the game is going so slow. It’s meandering along. I have a question in my mind: is there a place for 50-over cricket in today’s game?” Ashwin added.
“There used to be a time where one-day used to be play with the red ball. It is time to seriously give it a thought about this particular format of the game,” he said.
India, Australia and New Zealand have qualified for the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final and South Africa are close to seal the final spot.
