ODI Cricket: Is it Losing Relevance? Why Did Ben Stokes Retire at 31? 

ODI Cricket in recent times has become very rare. With every country having its league for T20 cricket and with test cricket blooming with the WTC, ODI cricket is taking the blows. The games are just being played for the sake of the ICC ODI Super League. So, is ODI Cricket losing its relevance? Is it losing its true essence? Does the ICC have a strong point in still having the One-Day format? Here is an in-depth look: 

ODI Cricket is Losing Relevance: 

Over the past few years, ODI cricket is sidelined. In the past 7 months, the Indian Cricket team has played only 9 ODI matches. 3 against Sri Lanka, 3 against the West Indies, and the remaining ones against England. There was a time when the ODI format was the prime point of focus but now that has changed. Does world cricket require the ODI format considering the arrival of t20s is a question now? After the start of the ODI Super League for the qualification for the 2023 ODI World Cup top nations like India, Australia, and Pakistan have only played 12, 12, and 15 games respectively. 

Pressured Scheduling is Taking a Toll on Players: 

With the IPL, BBL, CPL, PSL, T20 Blast, the Hundred, and the Lankan Premier League coming into the context, players have a very tight schedule. The games at times just have a day or two in between. The recovery time for the body is becoming close to none. In such times, the 3-format players find it difficult to stay fit and in contention always.  

The early retirement of Ben Stokes is a big sign for the management. It is also a big sign for the cricket community that their entertainers are not robots who can stay in their prime for long days. One day the boys are playing T20 cricket, the other day they have to switch to test cricket mode. This also takes a toll on the mental health of the players.  

ODI Cricket will Lose Sponsors if Measures are Not Taken: 

The ICC had taken measures for keeping test cricket afloat. Similar measures need to be taken to keep ODI cricket afloat. If ODI cricket loses relevance, it will eventually lose its audience which will mean that sponsorships will be a big reason to worry. We have seen these things happen with the Indian hockey and Indian football teams. The West Indies cricket team has off-late been playing without a chest sponsor.  

To know more go to Ben Stokes Set to Retire from ODI Cricket. Will Play Last Game on Tuesday Against South Africa. 2022.

Read more at Rishabh Pant: From Roorkee to Gabba, One of the Greatest Entertainers in 2022.

To know more go to Gundappa Viswanath: A True Master of his Craft. A Highly Regarded Batter.

To read more go to the official website of ICC.