Dublin, July 2: Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has said that T20 cricket has firmly established itself as the future of the game, while expressing uncertainty over the long-term sustainability of One-Day Internationals (ODIs).
Speaking to reporters after the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) 2026 Player Draft on Thursday, the Dublin Guardians captain and mentor highlighted the growing importance of the shortest format in expanding cricket’s global reach and strengthening its presence at the Olympic Games.
Responding to a question on whether cricket’s growth in emerging nations should focus primarily on T20 cricket or extend equally to other formats, Ashwin said players should first develop the ability to adapt to different conditions and match situations.
“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.
The veteran spinner cited India’s recent T20I series against Ireland as an example of how playing conditions can significantly influence the shortest format and challenge players to continuously evolve their skills.
He, however, maintained that T20 cricket remains the most effective format for taking the game to new markets around the world.
“Our job will be purely on T20 cricket and how it can get better. If the game has to become global and it has to become an Olympic sport, the shorter the game, the more viable it is,” Ashwin said.
He added that franchise-based T20 leagues across the world are creating more opportunities for players while expanding the talent pool and increasing the sport’s popularity.
“And that’s how it’s going to become much bigger, and you will see a better sample size of players. That is also very critical for several of these leagues, which run through the year,” he noted.
Ashwin concluded by giving a candid assessment of cricket’s evolving landscape.
“T20 as a sport is here to stay. I am not too sure about ODI cricket,” the 38-year-old said.
Ashwin’s remarks come at a time when T20 leagues continue to expand globally and discussions over the future balance between Test cricket, ODIs and T20 cricket remain a major talking point in the international game.
