'Youngsters Don't Have 8 Hours to Watch Cricket': Ravi Shastri Suggests Changes to Make ODIs More Appealing

With murmurs of the 2025 Champions Trophy format to be changed from one-dayers to T20s, the question over the future of ODIs is in the focus yet again.

Even the next president of Marylebone Cricket Club Mark Nicholas feels that ODIs should be limited to world cups only since the number of fans attending bilateral matches are diminishing and thus making it difficult to justify them.

The future appears grim but is there a way to revitalise the format?

Former India head coach and world cup winner Ravi Shastri thinks that times have changed and ODIs need to fit in accordingly.

“It (One-day format) has to evolve, changes have to be made,” Shastri said on Club Prairie Fire while responding to  query from Australia legend Adam Gilchrist’s query on ODI’s place in the current landscape when T20 format has gained significant popularity.

“When we (India) won the world cup in 1983, it was a 60 overs (per side) game. It changed to 50 overs (per side). You’ve got to evolve with the time. The attention time of a spectator is diminishing,” he added.

Shastri says reducing the overs per side is the way forward.

“The way forward would be a 40-over game which would still keep the one-day format on par with the other formats. I see it with the crowd. They wait to see what happens at the toss,” he suggested and added, “If their (a fan’s) favourite team is batting, they will rush to the ground, will watch 10 or 15 overs of the second innings and they’re off. If it’s the other way around – India batting second, it’s hot. I am going to ground at 5 o’clock to see the last 10-12 overs of the first innings and then I want to see my team bat.”

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Shastri thinks the attention span of the current generation is quite short and since an ODI typically lasts around 7-8 hours, it’s time to make it fast and exciting.

“It’s the attention span amongst the youngsters that’s changing. They don’t have eight hours of time to watch cricket. Especially when you’ve everything on your mobile these days. They choose the right time to go (to venues),” Shastri said.

“The best way would be curtail it to 40 overs and get on with it. And make it quick. When there’s a rain delay, start from when the rain stopped instead of adding that one-two hour. You’ve got to revisit the rule and see what the modern world demands. They want it quick and fast, and exciting,” he added.