'There could be another format coming up soon... T10!'

Former India wicket-keeper Syed Kirmani has said the days of ten-overs-a-side contest making a foray into international cricket is not far away as it would make the game even more interesting. 

Kirmani noted that initially only Test matches were played and it was only in 1975 that 60-overs-a-side version was introduced, followed by 50-overs-each and then came the new "very exciting" format of T20. 

"These three formats will grow eternally and there could be another format coming up very soon in the form of T10 which will be more interesting. There is lot of glamour which has come in and lot of commercialisation has come into the game (cricket) which is good," he told PTI. Kirmani said while the stress was on copybook technique during his playing days, it's all about winning now.

"The new trend is result-oriented. (It) does not matter whether you have your batting technique, your fielding technique or your wicket-keeping technique or bowling technique. The emphasis is on result and which is a good sign," he said. 

"But, I am an old school of thought. With a proper copybook technique, you are appreciated much better than without technique. With proper technique you tend to last longer and appreciated much better than those who do not have technique," Kirmani said. 

'You have to go according to the new ideas and new formats'

Observing that cricket has undergone a sea change since his playing days, the 65-year-old said now more money and glamour have come into the game for good. 

"I think there have been sweeping changes, right from my era to current era, sweeping changes. In Hindi, there is a saying zameen asman ka farakh (heaven and earth difference)," Kirmani said. 

"We never had a coach. We never had any support staff. We never had information technology. We learnt ourselves by looking into the negatives of the opposition or the players. We corrected ourselves. We applied our mind into it. 

"Whereas, the current era of cricketers are having the benefit of the 11 support staff in the form of a bowling coach, batting coach, fielding coach, mentor, trainer, adaptor, video analyst etc. It's a good welcome change. You have to go according to the wind, according to the new ideas and new formats," he added.