'The impact would be minimal'- Rohit Sharma and AB de Villiers have opposing views on the resurgence of ODI cricket

There has been an increasing debate pertaining to the negative impact of T20 cricket on the longer formats, primarily the ODIs. Many suggest that the rise of T20 and other shorter formats have been detrimental to the popularity of ODI cricket. Franchise cricket which features T20 matches has changed the whole structure of the sport these days.

The newer and shorter formats not only are exciting to new fans but also bring in huge money to the respective boards. Naturally, there is a greater emphasis on club cricket, as cricket at the end of the day, is a business that needs to earn money to survive.

The ODIs however are thought to be the pinnacle of the sport as it requires a player to have patience and play longer innings. Most cricketers have a fondness for Test and ODI cricket as that is the format where cricketers could show their class and skill.

Rohit Sharma had weighed on the same issue a while back and asked for an increase in tri-series and quadrangular series in order to popularise ODI cricket again. The Indian captain had said, "There was a time, when we were kids, I grew up, I watched a lot of tri-series or quadrangular series, but that has completely stopped. I think that can be a way forward so that there is enough time for a team to recover and get back.”

AB de Villiers, one of the best shorter format cricketers to ever hold the bat, however, seems to be of a different opinion. The former South African batter thinks that T20 cricket will continue to grow at a rapid pace while other formats would continue to shrink. The now retired cricketer also thinks that increasing bilateral and tri-series would not have much impact on the resurgence of ODI cricket.

Speaking to NDTV, the 38-year-old said, “It seems clear that T20 cricket will continue to grow and grow, inevitably at the expense of other formats,"

When asked if tri-series can help ODI cricket, AB de Villiers said, “I think the impact would be minimal.”