Sachin Tendulkar advocates adjustments to ODI cricket to regain appeal, such as adding a fielder outside the ring and implementing split innings.

Sachin Tendulkar, a legendary Indian cricketer, has proposed a few adjustments to the ODI format to ensure a fair balance between the bat and ball. As several players have acknowledged the declining public appeal of ODI cricket over the past year, there have been numerous conversations about how to keep the format relevant.

In order to manage his workload, star England all-rounder Ben Stokes also declared his retirement from ODI cricket last year. Jos Buttler, the captain of England’s ODI team, also voiced his concern about having an ODI series immediately follow the T20 World Cup in 2022.

Tendulkar has proposed getting rid of the two new balls now being used in the format so that the traditional reverse swing can be reintroduced in order to make ODI cricket more interesting and fan-friendly.

“Even in the 25th over, the ball is practically 12 or 13 overs old with two new balls. There is no such thing as a reverse swing, ball discoloration, or softening of the ball. The bowling side is under a lot of pressure as a result of these circumstances. There were times when a batter faced a challenge and chose not to pick up the ball due to the discoloration. That was a benefit for a bowler,” Tendulkar was cited by ESPNcricinfo as saying.

The 49-year-old added that from overs 11 to 40, one more fielder should be placed outside the ring to allow spinners to bowl an offensive line.

Additionally, the addition of five fielders to the ring… I spoke with many spinners, and the consensus was that “we cannot change our line.” An offspinner must always bowl a middle-stump line. Because on the on side you have three fielders in the deep, and here you can only have one fielder in the deep, you either have to have your deep point in the ring or you need to bring in the long-off,” Tendulkar continued.

Tendulkar’s criticism of the toss advantage: “It’s not a fair competition between two sides.”
The outcome of the toss has always been crucial in determining how a game will go. ODIs should be split into two innings of 25 overs each, as suggested by batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, to lessen the toss advantage in the game.

“A 25-25 overs contest is the answer to that, as I have previously stated. It is a 50-over match, but you only get to bat for 25 overs. After that, the other side gets to bat for 25 overs, and you resume play where you left off after the first 25 overs.

“The only reason I’m attempting to say this is because the outcome of the game can be determined by the flip of a tiny coin. There is no longer a struggle between the two factions. Because the captain won the toss, the circumstances are in favor of that side. Therefore, there isn’t a fair fight between the two teams, Tendulkar said.

On April 24, 2023, Sachin Tendulkar will turn 50 years old. In ODI cricket, the eminent cricketer leads with 18,426 runs, as well as the most fifties (96) and hundreds (49) ever.

Having amassed 2278 runs in the tournament’s history, he also holds the record for the most runs in ODI World Cups. His six tournament hundreds are also tied for the most in tournament history. In the ODI World Cups in 1996 and 2003, the 2011 World Cup champion placed first in terms of runs scored twice. For his 673 runs in the 2003 edition, which also set a record for most runs in a single tournament edition, he was even named Player of the Tournament.