‘We will slowly move towards T20 from ODIs’ – Former Indian Cricketer feels that the death of ODI cricket is imminent

Former Indian Cricketer Robin Uthappa feels that the rising fan following of the T20 format will overshadow ODIs going forward in the future. The rapid rise of T20 leagues across the world has attracted several international stars and also served as a great form of entertainment for fans across the globe. The shorter the duration of the game, more is the entertainment. And that’s why several current and former cricketers have started predicting the death of ODI cricket.

Uthappa, who is currently playing for the Dubai Capitals in the ILT20 stated that people nowadays don’t have 6-7 hours to invest behind a 50-over game. He added that while T20 leagues are boosting viewership, there would be more T10 leagues that’ll provide platforms to associate nations like China, Germany, etc.

“I think the game is evolving in that direction. But it’s also the viewership that dictates, what’s going to be more popular and what’s going to evolve, and what’s going to devolve. And it’s been a very natural process of evolution in that sense, which is why the T20 Cricket is coming to the fore. I do certainly believe that there will be a few more T10 leagues that will also come through the ranks. And like I said, T10 is a great version of cricket to kind of introduce the associate nations that are just starting, say teams like Germany, or China, and teams such as those to kind of play those so that they get a feel of what the sport generally entails,” Uthappa said in a select press briefing.

It shouldn’t get lesser than T10 cricket: Robin Uthappa

“And I see the game evolving in that direction and 50 over cricket, I don’t think we live in a world today where people can invest seven hours of their day into coming and watching a 50 or a one-day game at the stadium or investing that much time and watching a one-day game you know or at home, on the telly, today you do get apps as well,” he further said.

“So, the viewership will drop, and I think the evolution after this FTP cycle should be to kind of slowly wean off one-day cricket and move towards T20 and perhaps T10 Cricket and that’s where it should stop, it shouldn’t get lesser than that,” he added.