Last Updated on 3 years by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: I would never say that ODIs is getting finished – Rohit | Rohit Sharma speaks highly of the ODI format
One Day Internationals (ODIs) have found a solid supporter in Rohit Sharma as the format grapples criticism from several stars like Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali and Ravichandran Ashwin.
Speaking to the Indian Express, the Indian skipper explained the stadiums are jam-packed and the excitement levels are beaming even when teams play ODIs these days. He outlined that picking and choosing formats to turn up in is an individual choice for players. But he outrightly rejected the idea that any form of the game is nearing its end.
Stadiums are full even for ODIs – Rohit Sharma
“For me, cricket is important – whatever be the format. 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,” Rohit told the aforementioned publication.
He added, “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.”
Other stars have different view of ODI format
English Test skipper Stokes’ retirement from the ODI game had sparked a debate over the purported slow demise of the 50-over game. Later on, talking on the Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Club podcast, Ashwin explained that that ODIs have now just become an extended version of the T20 game. He opined that the ebbs and flows have gone missing from ODIs and that poses a major threat to the format in general.
“I’m an absolute cricket badger, a nut, and I switch off the telly after a point of time, watching the one-day game. That’s frankly very scary for that format of the game, I think. Those ebbs and flows, when they go missing, it’s not cricket anymore, it’s just an extended format of T20,” Ashwin had said in the aforementioned podcast.
Earlier this month, Moeen Ali had lamented the lack of importance given to ODIs amidst the emergence of new T20 franchise leagues across the world. The all-rounder had opined that ODIs are stuck somewhere in the middle of the shortest and the longest versions of the international game.
“At the moment it’s not sustainable in my opinion. Something has to be done because I fear losing the 50-over format in a couple of years because it’s almost like the long, boring one, if that makes sense. It’s almost like you’ve got T20s, you’ve got the Test matches which are great and then the 50 overs is just in the middle – there’s no importance given to it at the moment,” the 35-year-old was quoted in a report by ESPNCricinfo.
The next ODI World Cup is due in merely 14 months but the current cricketing calendar has been largely stuffed with T20I engagements owing to the two World T20s in 2020 and 2021.
However, Rohit’s encouraging comments come on the back of his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan saying that he loves the ODI format. Dhawan is currently in Zimbabwe where India will engage in a three-match ODI series starting from 18th August. The southpaw had a good outing in West Indies when he scored 168 runs across three games and led the side to a 3-0 victory as well. However, Dhawan has had to shelve captaincy responsibilities due to KL Rahul’s return from his long injury-ridden layoff.
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