Indian ODI captain Shubman Gill has put forward a simple but striking idea for ODI cricket: bring back tri-series and quadrangular tournaments. Instead of changing the game to 40 overs, he wants boards to revive the old multi-nation format that once gave 50-over cricket a stronger edge and more life. His point is clear: ODI cricket does not need to be shortened; it needs to feel more alive.
Gill Pushes Back on 40-Over Talk
The Indian ODI captain has rejected the idea of trimming one-day cricket to 40 overs. In his view, that would take away from the history and identity of the format. Gill believes the 50-over game still has its own place in world cricket, and the World Cup in that format should remain the highest stage.
His view comes at a time when ODI cricket is facing real pressure. T20 leagues have changed the way fans watch the game, and bilateral ODI series often struggle to keep the same interest. Gill feels the answer is not to reduce overs, but to make the format more competitive and more varied.
Why Tri-Series Still Matter
Gill’s suggestion takes cricket back to an older time, when tri-series were common and often highly watched. These tournaments usually involved three teams, while quadrangular events brought in four sides. The matchups changed often, and that made every game feel fresh.
He pointed to the value of seeing teams face different opponents in the same tournament. That kind of setting can create more drama because no side gets too comfortable. It also gives fans something more than a straight two-team contest.
For years, tri-series helped cricket stay busy during long tours and filled the calendar with matches that had real tension. Gill seems to believe that kind of setup could help ODI cricket again, especially now that so many fans are drawn to fast, short-format cricket.
What ODI Cricket Needs
One of Gill’s biggest concerns is that repeated bilateral series can become dull. When two teams play each other too often in the same format, the contest can lose some of its spark. That is especially true when the cricket calendar is crowded, and attention is split across multiple formats.
In contrast, a multi-team event offers more movement and more uncertainty. Every match can change the shape of the table. A team can also recover from one poor result because the tournament gives them different opponents and different tactical tests.
Gill also likes the idea of neutral or unfamiliar conditions. Travelling to new places and playing against changing opponents can push players harder. That is especially useful for younger cricketers who need pressure games before bigger tournaments.
Experience Still Matters
Even while looking ahead, Gill has made it clear that India’s ODI plan still depends on senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He sees them as central to the team’s 50-over blueprint. Their presence, he feels, gives India balance and calm in the middle of transition.
That is an important point because India is building toward the 2027 ODI World Cup. With that target in sight, Gill wants the team to keep experience at the core while also testing new players and combinations. It is a practical approach, not a rushed one.
Kohli and Rohit bring years of big-match experience. In a format that can still punish mistakes, that kind of reliability matters. Gill’s message suggests that India does not want to throw away the old while trying to build the new.
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A Better Way Forward
Gill’s idea is not about romance or nostalgia alone. It is about making ODI cricket matter more in a time when it is fighting for space. The format still has value, but it needs matches that feel important, different, and worth following closely.
Reviving tri-series and quadrangular tournaments could be one way to do that. It would create more variety for fans, more pressure for players, and more shape in the ODI calendar. It would also keep the 50-over game intact instead of cutting it down.
Gill’s view is a reminder that cricket does not always need a new shape to survive. Sometimes, the old structure still works best when the game needs fresh energy.
This idea also brings back a sense of variety that many ODI fans miss today. When more teams are involved, every game carries a different mood and a different challenge. That can help ODI cricket feel less repetitive and more worth following. Gill’s suggestion is simple, but it may be exactly the kind of step the format needs right now.
