Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has sparked a contemporary debate round the way forward for ICC tournaments by delivering a blunt evaluation of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Ashwin believes that the sheer frequency of ICC occasions, mixed with one-sided fixtures involving vastly unequal groups, might considerably scale back fan curiosity within the marquee match.
Ravichandran Ashwin on why followers received’t watch T20 World Cup 2026
Ashwin didn’t mince his phrases whereas discussing the construction and enchantment of recent ICC competitions. The previous off-spinner argued that early-round matches that includes top-ranked nations in opposition to comparatively inexperienced sides fail to seize the creativeness of viewers.
In response to Ashwin, contests akin to India going through affiliate groups within the opening levels do little to construct pleasure. He remarked that such fixtures threat driving followers away quite than drawing them in, because the aggressive stability is usually lacking. In his view, these mismatches undermine the very essence of a World Cup, which is supposed to showcase high-intensity cricket on the highest stage.
“Nobody goes to observe the ICC T20 World Cup this time. India vs USA, India vs. Namibia—these are video games that may actually pull you away from the World Cup,” Ashwin mentioned on his YouTube channel.
Lack of anticipation round world occasions
Ashwin additionally highlighted how the standard allure of ICC tournaments has eroded over time. He recalled an period when World Cups had been staged as soon as each 4 years, permitting anticipation and narrative to construct naturally. Again then, early-round clashes between heavyweight groups like India, England, Sri Lanka, or Australia had been main sights in themselves.
Now, nonetheless, Ashwin feels that the overexposure of world tournaments has dulled that pleasure. With followers seeing World Cups and ICC occasions nearly yearly, the sense of event has diminished. The previous India star instructed that shortage as soon as made these tournaments particular, an element that’s largely lacking within the present calendar.
“World Cups used to occur as soon as each 4 years. Due to that, the curiosity is used to construct. India used to play England or Sri Lanka within the first spherical, and that was much more enjoyable,” added Ashwin.
Additionally READ: Ravichandran Ashwin picks 2 standout players for India in 2025
Overcrowded ICC Schedule Underneath Scrutiny
Since 2010, ICC tournaments have been staged with outstanding regularity, with hardly a 12 months passing with no main world occasion. The T20 World Cup scheduled for 2020 was postponed as a result of COVID-19 pandemic and ultimately held in 2021, adopted by one other version in 2022. The ODI World Cup happened in 2023, the T20 World Cup adopted in 2024, the Champions Trophy happened in 2025, and now one other T20 World Cup arrives in 2026.
Additionally READ: 3 T20I superstars who bowed out before the T20 World Cup 2026
