With the growing popularity of T20 leagues and T20Is, clouds are hovering over the future of ODI cricket. Many feel that the 50-over format is time-consuming and want the ICC to completely abolish it.

In fact, reports are claiming that the broadcasters want the 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy to be played in the T20I format.

Amid the debate, former India coach Ravi Shastri has come up with a novel solution to uplift the diminishing popularity of the one-day format.

“It (One-day format) has to evolve, changes have to be made,” Shastri said while speaking on Club Prairie Fire podcast, also featuring Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan.

“When we (India) won the world cup in 1983, it was a 60 overs (per side) game. It changed to 50 overs (per side). You’ve got to evolve with the time. The attention time of a spectator is diminishing,” he added.

According to Ravi Shastri, reducing ODI cricket to 40-over per side should be the way forward.

“The way forward would be a 40-over game which would still keep the one-day format on par with the other formats. I see it with the crowd. They wait to see what happens at the toss,” Shastri opined.

“If their (a fan’s) favourite team is batting, they will rush to the ground, will watch 10 or 15 overs of the second innings and they’re off. If it’s the other way around – India batting second, it’s hot. I am going to ground at 5 o’clock to see the last 10-12 overs of the first innings and then I want to see my team bat,” he further remarked.