What Happened to One Day International (ODI)?

The One Day International (ODI) format of cricket began on January 5, 1971, almost by accident, when a rain-affected Test match between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was replaced by a one-off 40-over-per-side game. This impromptu match, won by Australia, proved to be an instant success, demonstrating the appeal of a shorter, more dynamic form of cricket compared to the multi-day Test matches. The format quickly evolved, with the first Men's Cricket World Cup held in England in 1975, initially played with 60 overs per side. Key innovations in the late 1970s, largely driven by Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket, introduced colored uniforms, white balls, and day/night matches under floodlights, transforming the spectator experience and setting many of the standards still seen today.

A significant turning point occurred in 1987 when the World Cup moved out of England and the overs were uniformly reduced from 60 to 50 per side, a format that has largely remained consistent. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, ODI cricket flourished, with the World Cup becoming a premier global sporting event. However, the emergence and rapid growth of Twenty20 (T20) cricket, particularly after the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 and the proliferation of domestic T20 leagues like the IPL, began to challenge ODI's dominance. The fast-paced, high-scoring nature of T20s captured a new audience and offered players lucrative opportunities, leading to discussions about the relevance and future of the 50-over format.

In response to these challenges and to add more context to bilateral ODI series, the International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced the Men's Cricket World Cup Super League, which ran from 2020 to 2023. This league served as a qualification pathway for the 2023 Cricket World Cup, aiming to make every match meaningful. While the Super League was a temporary measure for the 2023 World Cup cycle and will not be repeated for 2027, it highlighted the ICC's commitment to structuring the format.

As of 2026, ODI cricket continues to evolve. In July 2025, the ICC implemented a significant revision to the two-ball rule in ODIs. Instead of using two new balls from each end throughout the innings, two new balls are used for the first 34 overs, after which the fielding team selects one of those balls for the remaining 16 overs. This change aims to readdress the balance between bat and ball by allowing the ball to wear and tear, potentially reintroducing reverse swing and offering more assistance to bowlers in the latter stages of an innings. The ICC CEO, Sanjog Gupta, stated in August 2026 that the era of 'randomly scheduled bilateral series' must end, emphasizing the need for context and competition to sustain the format, with its future 'inextricably' linked to the World Cup.

The upcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in 2027, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, will feature an expanded 14-team format with new stages, including a 'Super Series' and 'Super 7' round, designed to increase competitiveness. This indicates a strategic effort by the ICC to revitalize the format, particularly its marquee tournament. Despite ongoing debates about its place alongside Test and T20 cricket, ODI remains a format that demands a unique blend of strategy, skill, and endurance, as highlighted by India fast bowler Prasidh Krishna in September 2026, who called it the 'toughest format' due to the need for bowlers to adapt across different phases of the game.