"Has Stayed For 50 For Too Long": Ravi Shastri's Radical Suggestion For ODIs

Ever since the retirement of England all-rounder Ben Stokes from ODIs, many are speculating about the future of the 50-over format. A lot of former cricketers have also expressed their concern with the growing cricket calendar and how players need to stay fresh. Now, former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri has backed calls for reducing the number of overs in ODIs, saying ODIs have been played for 50 overs for far too long.

During the commentary stint on FanCode for the second ODI between India and West Indies, Shastri said: "There is no harm in shortening the span of the game. When ODIs started, it was 60 overs. When we won the World Cup in 1983, it was 60 overs. After that, people thought that 60 overs were a bit too long. People found that span of overs between 20 to 40 hard to digest. So they reduced it from 60 to 50.

"So, years have gone by now since that decision so why not reduce it from 50 to 40 now. Because you got to be forward-thinking and evolve. It stayed for 50 for too long,” he added.

Some food for thought from @RaviShastriOfc in the #NoFilter commentary feed in 2nd ODI! #WIvINDDo you agree with this Hot Take?Listen to your choice of commentary on India tour of West Indies LIVE, only on #FanCode https://t.co/RCdQk1l7GU#INDvsWIonFanCode #IndvsWI pic.twitter.com/61JWDSLVlw

Earlier, Shastri had said that only the top-six teams should get to play Test cricket and the sport can be spread to different countries through white-ball cricket.

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"If you want Test cricket to survive you cannot have 10, 12 teams playing. Keep the top six, keep the quality of cricket going and respect quality over quantity. That's the only way you open up a window for other cricket to be played. Expand teams in T20 or one-day