Oh! My Love

The debate on the declining stature of One day cricket circling the press and news channel are intriguing as well as ludicrous for people who have religiously followed the game. I still remember the time when ODIs with its coloured clothing, field restrictions and day/night games suddenly captured cricket lover's imagination. It sparked a debate back then that it will slowly kill Test cricket. However, it has been more than two decades and Test cricket is still amazingly competitive and watchable and regarded by many former and current players as the epitome of cricketing skill test. In 2005, the internationally accepted shortest version of the game Twenty20 was introduced. A game reduced to 20 overs for each side added with rules to attract fast food fans who wants to watch a keen contest at an amazingly fast speed. For others, watching their stars and a game that took just little above three hours was an attractive advantage. It has since then achieved such an acceptance that many believe that it will send ODIs and Test cricket into retirement. This time though things have changed and it is worrying, as it really looks like it will achieve what most nonsensical have kept fearing about. Twenty20 is fast, interesting, competitive and to top that it is hugely popular. For players its quick money and for corporate it’s an opportunity to cash in. To add further ignition to the debate, BCCI’s domestic T20 event Indian Premier League since its inception has been a huge success. It has caught viewer’s imagination - watching their favourite players competing against each other for various franchises. International players are ready to skip their national duties to be part of this mega event. And why not? IPL give them the opportunity to become overnight stars added with financial stipends. Such remuneration, which they won’t even imagine achieving even if they were a consistent performer for their respective countries. With ICC not relenting for a separate window for IPL and other such domestic T20 tournaments, it is clear that players will definitely have a choice to make. Most often it could be the lucrative one ahead of country colours. They cannot be blamed; as a cricketer their earning life is quite short and they should have the right like everyone else to secure their future. The onus is on the game’s governing body to find a mid path to the situation and work upon a plan to keep the three formats – Test, ODI and T20 on even platform. As for cricket lovers we are ready for all the formats – barring the fact that there is no dip in quality.