A prolonged gap of eight years, and the Champions Trophy returns today. Let us call it sort of a huge moment in the One Day International Cricket, because there have been concerns about ICC scrapping the tournament. But the return speaks for itself. Not to forget that the last edition of 2017, a blockbuster carnival where India and Pakistan faced one another in the final.

In a way, the Champions Trophy is adding relevance to the ODI cricket, when the sport has a global domination of T20s. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reviving the Champions Trophy which is said to be the most competitive ODI tournament. Apart from the 2025 edition, it has also announced for the next stint in 2029.

One day international hasn’t been the really go to option for cricket lovers, of course the mood changes when it is about the ODI World Cup. For, ODIs do not have the classic old world charm like the Test cricket, neither are they capable to take the game a notch higher as what a three-hour T20 could do two decades back. There has been a decline in bilateral ODIs, and that’s when Champions Trophy is adding to the format’s relevance, being a multinational event. 

ODIs used to bring financial returns once, but since the advent of T20s they started losing their significance. Champions Trophy was introduced in 1998, so that it could generate revenue for the game. The inaugural edition earned USD 20 million, standing true to the expectations. And until 2006, 1,871 ODIs were played in a period of 15 years, the T20s only 12.

But it was the success of the first T20 World Cup in 2007 that cornered it significantly, changing the whole landscape of the game. Since then, a total of 3,080 T20s have been played, comparing to only 2,373 ODIs. The test playing nations have competed in 2,040 ODIs and 1,320 T20s. Now, if we talk about the trend after 2023 ODI World Cup, these 8 nations have played 229 T20s and only 101 ODIs. And before all the hype about the last year’s T20 World Cup, the teams started focusing largely on the shortest format of the game, calling it a shifting focus in International Cricket.

If we talk about India alone, the biggest cricketing nation of all, the team has played only 9 ODIs ever since the 2023 ODI World Cup, a period of two years. Sri Lanka played 23, Australia 13 and Pakistan 12 ODIs. The numbers reveal the changing dynamics, and how the ODI format is being overshadowed under T20 dominance.

Well, apart from the stats there are some other concerns as well, when players are “not seeing any future” in the format. The ICC has not ever spoken openly about its future, but some players are distancing themselves from it. Ben Stokes retired from ODIs when he was at the peak of his career in 2022. He called the format “unsustainable” in an overcrowded schedule. Moreover, South Africa cancelled their ODI tour of Australia, emphasizing on their T20 league back home. At that time, they were at the risk of missing with their direct qualification to the ICC ODI World Cup of 2023.

Players in many countries have walked out of their national contracts, prioritizing over the financial security and flexibility offered by franchises in T20s. Former cricketers have their own assessments towards the format with Wasim Jaffer calling ODIs as a “drag”, Ravi Shastri questioning relevance of it and Usman Khwaja claiming that the format is “dying a slow death.” Even Sachin Tendulkar addressed the ODI struggles, saying that it has become too predictable and boring, highlighting that the use of two balls in ODIs has shifted the game in favor of the batters. Middle overs between 15 to 40 often lack momentum and are not able to engage the audience.

Considering all the struggles and challenges, it would still be early to say that the ODIs are not relevant enough. Take the stance of 2023 World Cup alone, we saw cricket at its best, with some thrilling performances, upsets and then comebacks too…which were engaging, at the same time drew viewers reminding the greatness of ODIs. Let us not forget about the 2019 World Cup too. And this is why, ICC is still reliant on the Mini World Cup too.

The multi-nation tournaments are always in focus and are loved by all. It is the way forward for the ODIs. And a special mention should be about the tri-series as well, they too are integral to this. Thus, we can say that the Champions Trophy is very much relevant and is keeping ODIs alive. If ICC can think of some innovations, it can revamp the game all over again. And whether the interest is reignited or not, that remains to be seen…