ODI cricket is the most boring contest, let T20Is continue: Aakash Chopra

Former India batter Aakash Chopra feels that the One-day International format needs changes rather than discontinuing T20 International bilateral series. Earlier, it was former India head coach Ravi Shastri, who proposed the idea of terminating the bilateral series of the shortest format and only sticking to franchise cricket and T20 World Cups. 

Chopra believes that it is not T20 International (T20I) that is struggling. The former batter called One-day Internationals (ODI) to be the “most meaningless” format. He felt that neither broadcasters nor the fans enjoy watching an ODI game, adding that the format does not keep anybody engaged. Earlier, Shastri had stated that “no one remembers” bilateral T20 tournaments. 

Broadcasters need T20 Internationals: Aakash Chopra

Talking about T20Is on his YouTube channel, Chopra said that a lack of bilateral tournaments can have a major hit on broadcast rights across countries. He added that if T20I existed only during World Cups, it would not give players teams enough time to prepare for the events.

“(T20I) Bilateral tournaments, no one remembers. I don’t remember a single T20 game in the last six-seven years as coach of India barring the World Cup. Unfortunately, we didn’t win; so I don’t remember that either,” said Shastri earlier.

“If you see the interest levels, keeping the Tests aside as everything is not commercialization, I feel ODI cricket is the most boring contest. It is the most meaningless, it is the format that no one remembers. I think ODI cricket is struggling, it is not the T20I cricket that is struggling. Let T20 internationals continue because the broadcasters will need them else they won’t give you the money. Every country’s broadcast rights will take a major hit,” said Chopra on his YT channel.

“I feel T20 internationals should continue because if you play T20 cricket at the international level just once in two years, there will be no time for you to actually prepare for that world event,” added Chopra.