Nagpur: The 50-over format has been fading into the background since the 2023 World Cup, with teams increasingly prioritizing T20 cricket. India, in particular, has played the fewest ODIs (six) among top teams in this period, while England has featured in 11 matches.
With the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and Dubai set to begin later this month, the spotlight is briefly back on ODI cricket. England captain Jos Buttler remains uncertain about the format’s long-term future, admitting that it is being “pushed to the margins” due to packed schedules and the rising dominance of T20 leagues.
“I’m unsure about the future of ODIs,” Buttler said in Nagpur ahead of the first match against India. “I have always enjoyed 50-over cricket—it has been one of my favorite formats. But in recent years, it has certainly been sidelined due to scheduling constraints and the rise of T20 and franchise cricket.”
Despite this, Buttler emphasized that an ODI World Cup still holds more prestige than its T20 counterpart. “If you ask players about winning a World Cup, most would still pick the 50-over World Cup over a T20 one. Whether that remains the case in the future, I don’t know.”
The England skipper believes the key to keeping ODI cricket relevant is ensuring that the best players are available for matches. “If you can get the top players competing against each other, no matter the format, people will always be excited to watch.”
Buttler acknowledged that facing India on their home soil is an ideal test for England ahead of the Champions Trophy. “Taking on India in India is one of the biggest challenges in world cricket and as good a preparation as you can get. Conditions here may be similar to those in Pakistan, though every venue has its own nuances. Our focus is on adapting quickly.”
Reaffirming England’s commitment to their attacking style, Buttler stressed the importance of maintaining pressure on the opposition. “We want to put the opposition under pressure with the bat. Taking wickets is crucial—if you let batters settle, they can do real damage. We’ll be looking for ways to be aggressive and take wickets consistently.”
Buttler also lauded India captain Rohit Sharma, who will be eager to regain form in the series. “If you look back at the 2023 World Cup, the two teams in the final played aggressive and positive cricket. Travis Head’s approach in the final is a great example of how that mindset can bring success. Rohit deserves a lot of credit for the way he has embraced an attacking style, both as a captain and a batter. He has pushed India towards a more aggressive brand of cricket, and we want to do the same,” he concluded.