Off-side: Not over for 50-over cricket but

The World Cup is over, and India has misplaced. The crew had been unbeatable till the ultimate, successful 10 consecutive matches with ease. But ultimately, the craving of the billions and the arduous work of the XI weren’t sufficient to cease a street-smart Australia from working away with the trophy at a surprised and hushed Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The anticipated climax didn’t unfold as envisioned by the BCCI higher-ups or the nation at giant — a Rohit Sharma coronation endorsed from the stands by the populist Prime Minister was the script all had hoped would unfold. But, armed with an unrivalled knockout observe report, Australia marshalled the sector extra successfully than the Ahmedabad cops, who fumbled to forestall an undesirable visitor from trespassing onto the taking part in enviornment. The crew’s formidable tempo triumvirate—Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazelwood — solidified their legacy by navigating the preliminary tempest stirred by Rohit Sharma. They now boast a set of triumphs, having clinched two ODI World Cups, a T20 World Cup, and the coveted World Test Championship crown. The early outburst by the Indian quick bowlers was not sufficient, as Travis Head discovered an in a position ally in Marnus Labuschagne to forge a match-winning stand.

Although India’s marketing campaign concluded with a bitter defeat, the brilliance that illuminated its 45-day journey can’t be dimmed by a single loss. Its dominance spanned the league part, conquering each adversary within the round-robin matches and silencing New Zealand in a riveting semifinal.

The World Cup, regardless of a stumbling begin in a sparsely populated Narendra Modi Stadium on October 5, recorded the very best attendance for an ICC occasion, respiratory new life into the format. With a staggering 1.25 million attendees, it surpassed the 2015 version’s report of 1.01 million spectators. The India-Australia last set a report peak viewership of almost 5.9 crore, whereas the house crew’s semifinal drew an viewers of 5.3 crore.

The way forward for the ODI World Cup, in the meanwhile, seems to be secured, with the hosts for 2027 (South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia) and 2031 (India and Bangladesh) already introduced. But uncertainties proceed to loom over the format. There was a pointy fall within the variety of ODIs performed between the 2019 and 2023 editions in comparison with the video games performed within the cycle earlier. India, the financial powerhouse of the game, is slated to take part in a mere 9 matches over the following 15 months, main as much as the returning Champions Trophy in 2025, set to happen in Pakistan.

For the gamers, although, the match retains its attraction. “That’s the pinnacle of international cricket, winning a one-day World Cup,” Australia’s victorious captain declared. There have been ideas of a 40-over format, however a 10-over discount will hardly assist it shed the ‘too long, too boring, and too irrelevant’ tag.

The meek pitches, the towering scores, and the absence of nail-biting contests throughout the group phases hardly provided any reprieve to the embattled ODIs. It appears that the one lifeline for the format’s survival now lies within the persevering with saga of India’s pursuit of a 3rd ODI World Cup crown.