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Having grown up playing cricket in every space imaginable on the streets in India, in the alleys, in terraces, rooms and grounds, I say with a lot of despondency that the future of cricket is in danger.
And no, this isn’t another write-up on how Twenty20 is killing the game, but just a prediction made by a devoted fan of the sport.
Unlike other sports, cricket is a sport whose future has always been up for debate over the years.
One must remember that 40 years ago ODIs proved to be a refreshing change and enjoyed a high-profile status than Twenty20 enjoys today. It was the 50-over format that catapulted cricket into the modern era.
ODIs have served as an arena for many greats of the game to exhibit their potential to the hilt, entertaining fans all over the globe. But we currently live in an age of spontaneity and cricket has suffered because of this prevailing impulsive behaviour.
We will never again witness players of the calibre and excellence of Ponting, Tendulkar, Dravid, Lara and Kallis as we head into an era where cricket is virtually about sixes, fours and truckloads of money.
As things stand, the 2015 ODI World Cup in Australia would in all probability be the last time we witness the 50-over format on the international circuit.
Diminishing crowds in the last few years are an obvious indication of this quandary. For instance, there hasn’t been a crowd in excess of 50,000 at the MCG, with a capacity of nearly 100,000, for an ODI in the last six years.
The element of craft in cricket has taken a pounding as aggression, muscle and brute force form significant components in the game today.
For me, Test cricket is still the real deal but with dwindling crowds and poor viewership ratings, sadly, this format is bound to go extinct in the years to come following ODIs.
T20 was enjoyable when it first burst onto the scene with its stylised package of dance, music, fireworks and glamour, but it’s become rather mundane and repetitive over the years. How exciting can a game be if the ball is dunked into the stands oh so often? Boring!
It might be ruling the roost today but has it got the capacity to keep viewers hooked forever? There will come a time when people find T20 mind-numbing in maybe a decade from now.
It might be fashionable today and could be included in the Olympic Games but that doesn’t guarantee longevity of the sport in general.
If we go back to the 2013 Big Bash League in Australia, crowd numbers have been disappointing – numbers hovered around only the 15-20,000 mark at grounds across the country.
The ICC has its work cut out and needs to rethink its priorities and plan long-term so that cricket can survive the test of time.
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