Will reforms save ODIs? ICC’s final attempt to end the boredom - Best11.in

In June 1975, the iconic Lord’s ground in England was the stage for the first-ever Cricket World Cup final, where West Indies defeated Australia to claim the inaugural title. Four years later, Clive Lloyd’s Caribbean team repeated the feat. By 1983, it was India’s moment, with Kapil Dev’s team triumphing at Lord’s, a cherished memory for fans. This victory marked the rise of cricket in Asian nations like India.

The World Cup continued every four years, with new champions emerging. The world later witnessed the dominance of Australia. By the mid-2000s, T20 cricket gained massive popularity. The ICC’s first T20 World Cup in 2007 was a huge success, shifting focus to the shorter format. While Test cricket retained its traditional charm, T20 became the voice of the modern era. Meanwhile, the relevance of 50-over ODI cricket began to wane.

ODIs gradually lost appeal, with many cricket boards including them in schedules only nominally. Last year, India played just three ODIs, a trend mirrored globally. However, the ICC isn’t ready to abandon ODIs entirely. With T20’s rise rendering ODIs less relevant, the ICC is planning significant reforms starting next July to revive the format.

Key changes include using two new balls from each end at the start of an innings, with each ball used for 17 overs until the 34th over. Currently, a single ball loses shine after 20-25 overs, slowing the outfield and affecting run rates, often making middle overs dull. The new-ball rule aims to keep matches lively, benefiting both bowlers and batters by maintaining pace and enabling bigger scores. From overs 35 to 50, only one ball—chosen by the fielding captain—will be used. In rain-affected matches shortened to 20-25 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis rule, each team will use one new ball.

The substitute rule is also being overhauled. Teams can no longer make arbitrary substitutions; a pre-submitted list of five players (batter, pace bowler, spinner, all-rounder, wicketkeeper) must be provided to the match referee before the game, and replacements can only come from this list, except in emergencies like serious injuries. These reforms, recommended by a committee led by former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, aim to reinvigorate ODIs. Similar significant changes were introduced during the 2011 World Cup.

Can these changes make ODIs exciting again and ensure their survival in the modern era? What’s your opinion?