'I'm Not Too Sure About ODI Cricket': R Ashwin Drops Bombshell On Future Of One-Day Cricket Format

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes T20 cricket has become the format that will shape the future of the game. At the same time, he admitted he is unsure whether One-Day Internationals (ODIs) can remain relevant in the long run.

Ashwin shared his views during a media interaction after the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) 2026 Player Draft on Thursday. The Dublin Guardians captain and mentor said T20 cricket is the best format to help the game grow across the world because it is shorter and more appealing. He also feels it is the ideal format for cricket's return to the Olympic Games.

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When asked whether cricket's expansion in new countries should focus only on T20s or include the longer formats as well, Ashwin said players should first learn how to adjust to different situations, no matter which format they are playing.

"I think cricket as a whole needs to be learned in a way that you get better every single day. You should be able to adapt. The name of the game is adaptation,” Ashwin said in a media interaction following the conclusion of the ETPL 2026 Player Draft.

Ashwin used India's recent T20I series against Ireland to explain how changing conditions can have a huge impact even in the shortest format. According to him, players need to keep improving and adapting to succeed.

"Which is why what happened recently between India and Ireland in that T20 series is a classic example of how conditions can eliminate a lot of aspects of the game that have been developed as a root cause of T20 as a sport,” the all-rounder added.

Even so, Ashwin believes T20 remains the best format to take cricket to new audiences and help the sport grow in different parts of the world.

"But that aside, our job will be purely on T20 cricket and how it can get better. And if the game has to become global and it has to become an Olympic sport, the shorter the game, the more viable it is,” the Dublin Guardians captain and mentor stated.

He also said franchise leagues around the world will continue to play a big role in the growth of T20 cricket. According to Ashwin, these tournaments will create more opportunities for players and help improve the overall standard of the game.

"And that's how it's going to become much bigger, and you will see a better sample size of players. Which is also very critical for several of these leagues, which run through the year."

The 38-year-old ended with a clear view on where he sees cricket heading in the future.

"T20 as a sport is here to stay. I am not too sure about ODI cricket.”