Indian cricket star Ravichandran Ashwin has launched a sharp critique against the International Cricket Council's (ICC) current scheduling model, labelling the frequent marquee tournaments as an "overkill" driven primarily by revenue generation. The veteran off-spinner has urged the global governing body to adopt a pattern similar to FIFA, holding its flagship event once every four years to restore value and anticipation.
Ashwin's Plea: Follow FIFA's Model for Marquee Events
Speaking candidly on his popular YouTube channel 'Ash Ki Baat' on January 1, 2026, Ashwin pointed out the congested international calendar. He noted that 2025 featured the men's Champions Trophy and the women's ODI World Cup, while 2026 is set to host both the men's and women's T20 World Cups. "Every year, there is an ICC tournament for revenue generation pattern," Ashwin stated, contrasting this with football's structure.
"Look at how FIFA is doing it. There are leagues (EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga) happening and they do their World Cup once in every four years. The World Cup has value as it’s a marquee tournament. (But in cricket) too many bilaterals, too many formats, too many World Cups, so it’s little bit of an overkill," he elaborated.
A Radical Solution to Save ODI Cricket
Ashwin directly addressed the declining relevance of the 50-over format, suggesting a drastic reduction could be its only saviour. While legends like Sachin Tendulkar have proposed split-innings, Ashwin's solution is more fundamental. He believes the ODI format should centre around a single, prestigious event.
"If you really want to make ODI cricket relevant, then just play these (T20s) leagues and play ODI World Cup once in four years. So when people turn up for events, there will be sense of expectation. (Otherwise) I feel it (ODI cricket) is going towards slow death," Ashwin warned. He emphasised that this model would create a genuine sense of occasion and demand, which is currently diluted.
The Post-Kohli & Rohit Era and Dhoni's Lost Art
The 37-year-old also expressed concern about the future of ODIs once modern greats like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retire from the format. He reminisced about the tactical nuances that defined the era of players like Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
"...Dhoni (would) take singles for 10-15 overs before he went berserk at the end. You don’t have players like that (Dhoni) anymore," Ashwin observed. He attributed this change to modern rules like two new balls and only five fielders inside the circle, which have shifted the game's dynamics. According to Ashwin, contemporary ODIs often swing between being a "bashathon" or witnessing dramatic collapses on slightly challenging pitches, losing the strategic middle-overs battle.
Ashwin's comments add a significant voice to the ongoing global debate about cricket's crowded schedule, the survival of the ODI format, and the need for a sustainable, fan-centric calendar from the ICC.
