Amidst concerns over the declining popularity of ODI cricket, former India's star opener Gautam Gambhir has advocated for a radical change of the format. With the meteoric rise of T20 cricket casting a long shadow over the 50-over format, Gambhir has proposed introducing four powerplays to inject excitement and engage audiences.
The future of ODI cricket has been a topic of intense debate in recent years, with experts voicing their concerns about its diminishing appeal. The rise of T20 cricket has undoubtedly impacted the popularity of ODIs, with its shorter and more fast-paced nature attracting a wider fan base.
To address these concerns, Gambhir believes that introducing four powerplays would transform ODI cricket into a more dynamic and engaging spectacle. He suggests that each team should have access to four powerplays during their innings, each lasting five overs. This would provide batters with more opportunities to score freely, while also offering bowlers a chance to strike early and exert pressure.
“In the first 10 overs, there should be nine fielders inside the 30-yard circle. This number should be five for the next 20 overs. From overs 31-40, there should be four fielders inside and from 41-50 only three. Spinners can then be used in the last 10 overs as six fielders are on the boundary,” Gambhir told Sportskeeda.
“Start with two new balls, but only till 20 overs. After 20 overs, tell the captain to choose one of the two balls and use that one for the next 30 overs. This will aid finger spinners and bowlers will get reverse swing as well,” he added.
The 42-year-old's bold suggestions highlight the need for a serious re-evaluation of ODI cricket to ensure its survival in the modern era.
Expanding on his previous remarks, Gambhir expressed his desire to see the return of triangular and quadrangular cricket series. He believes that these multi-team tournaments inject excitement and unpredictability into the game, providing a more engaging spectacle for fans. Moreover, he argues that these tournaments offer lesser-ranked teams valuable opportunities to showcase their talent and gain recognition.
“I loved it. Tri-series and quadrangular series were fun. There is no fun in playing bilateral series. You are just playing against one opposition four-five times. Imagine playing seven-eight ODIs where India, Australia and England are playing or India, Australia, New Zealand. Every day brings a new challenge. It is like a mini-competition. Triangular and quadrangular series’ need to come back,” Gambhir further stated.
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