Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma ODI focus decision has restarted the conversation about the format’s future. Irfan Pathan, a former Indian all-rounder, states that the organizers can and should be the ones to reshape bilateral cricket and put on more multi-nation ODI events even while these two cricketing gods are still very powerful.
What connects Pathan to the idea of Kohli and Rohit being the center of the ODI revival
Pathan looks at the same time the ticket sales to the stadiums are full and also when there is a noticeable increase of the sales of tickets each time Kohli or Rohit are playing. Moreover, he drew the attention of the audience to the fact that the curiosity to see the match in Vizag increased suddenly only after people got excited about the century of Kohli in Ranchi. This kind of popularity of the crowd where fans are following stars, as he puts it, is a great opportunity for a short period through which the organizers would not do anything wrong if they were to take advantage of it.
Pathan has made an innovative suggestion. Instead of the common three-match bilateral series, he recommended five-ODI series to be played, along with the introduction of even triangular or quadrangular competitions outside the World Cup window. Moreover, he believes that more Kohli and Rohit matches will not only keep the fan base intact but also improve the format’s commercial value.
Local support is also crucial
Pathan also talked about domestic cricket, where both of them got a chance to play. Rohit attracted large crowds in Jaipur, and Kohli’s involvement in domestic one-dayers even created a buzz in some closed-door matches. He thinks the continuous presence of the duo in the domestic circuit will help the growth of the next generation of supporters and will consequently keep the ODI interest alive in the gaps between the international tournaments.
Ashwin puts a disclaimer Is there life after 2027?
There are some who are not as hopeful about the long term. Ravichandran Ashwin is among the ones who have expressed doubts about ODI cricket’s survivability post-2027 World Cup. Ashwin says, that the format has been given a new lease of life thanks to Kohli and Rohit, but he is worried about who would step into their place after they retire.
The point he is communicating is a fundamental problem unlike Test cricket, which is now accompanied by a championship and T20 cricket, which boasts many global leagues, bilateral ODIs often do not have a clear and steady context. Moreover, certain cricket boards view ODIs as the time that they can bring in their junior or fringe players, and it can have an immediate effect on the number of people watching.
Rohit Sharma with KL Rahul & T Dilip at Varodara Airport. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/RlkbIRjO6r
— Rohit Sharma Fan (@hitmanfanfollow) January 7, 2026
ICC Changes and Their Effect on Matches
The governing body of world cricket has also been quite busy. Making it difficult for batsmen during certain periods by altering the rules to give the bowlers the upper hand and discussions about the re-imposition of the ODI Super League are some of the initiatives that they have undertaken to reintroduce a purpose and balance, while at the same time, making no inference for the 50-over matches. These decisions could open a path for more exciting international fixtures by making the opponents more frequently amongst the similar teams instead of the current rotation and, finally, eliminating the dead rubbers.
Just altering policies would not suffice alone. By Pathan’s recommendation, it would be great to have more high-profile ODI series of five matches, or conducting multi-team events during the time when Kohli and Rohit are still the most significant could provide a very relevant link between the short-term commercial gains and the longer-term structural reforms.
What the next steps should be
The organizers ought to perceive the popularity of Kohli and Rohit as a tactical opportunity and not a permanent solution. Short-term actions will be characterized by more five-ODI series, the organization of neutral-venue triangular events, and the promotion of domestic one-day tournaments at the time of celebrity presence. The prospect of long-term movements should concentrate on the establishment of new ODI narratives: the sustainable models of the leagues, the Super League expansion with substantial stakes, and the youth development that yields the new fan attractions.
It is likely that the fans will be very attentive when Kohli and Rohit come back on, in January, against New Zealand in a three-ODI series. This series could be a sample of the demand and a benchmark for the development of the schemes for the 2027 World Cup.
In one sentence, veteran voices are calling for action take advantage of the superstars’ popularity now, but combine it with changes in the system so that ODI cricket will live and prosper even when the new generation of heroes has to come up.
