"Fans Won't Watch T20 World Cup": Ashwin's Bold Claim Stuns Cricket World—Here's Why - Punjabi News

Published on: 02 Jan 2026 at 03:11 PM

“Fans Won’t Watch T20 World Cup”: Ashwin’s Bold Claim Stuns Cricket World—Here’s Why

Published by: Gill Bikram

“Fans Won’t Watch T20 World Cup”: Ashwin’s Bold Claim Stuns Cricket World—Here’s Why

The 2026 T20 World Cup is set for February-March, hosted by India and Sri Lanka. However, former Indian spinner R Ashwin has issued a stark warning to the ICC, predicting fans will skip it due to oversaturation.

Retired from international cricket in 2024, Ashwin argued on his YouTube channel that annual ICC events dilute prestige. He compared it to FIFA World Cup—held every four years, building global anticipation—saying: “No one will watch this T20 World Cup. Matches like India vs USA or India vs Namibia early on will drive viewers away.”

Ashwin’s Key Criticisms

Too many events: From 2010, ICC tournaments happen almost yearly (except 2018). Recent shifts: T20 WC (2021, 2024), ODI WC (2023), Champions Trophy (2025), next T20 WC (2026), ODI WC (2027).
Mismatch in formats: Expanded teams mean lopsided group-stage games between powerhouses and associates, causing early boredom.
Lost exclusivity: “World Cups used to be once every four years, building excitement. Now bilateral series, formats, and World Cups are too much—ICC prioritizes commerce.”

Ashwin urged ICC to rethink calendars beyond commercial interests for sustained fan engagement.