Will Champions Trophy, ODIs beat IPL, T20 popularity among GenNext fans?

As India played New Zealand in the first warm-up on Sunday, my six-year-old son was glued to the television set. After electing to bat, the Kiwis went about it like a Twenty20 match. They had lost four wickets for 86 in 15 overs.

My son was eagerly watching Williamson & Co and wondering how much they will give India to chase. Once the Kiwis innings crossed 20 overs, he appeared puzzled. "Dad, why have they continued with their batting when 20 overs are done?" he asked innocently.

I explained to him that it was a 50-over game and not a T20. Once he heard that that he stood up and left to play with his bat on his own.

Even his favourite Virat Kohli's unbeaten half-century failed to excite him.

Such has been the impact of the fast-paced Indian Premier League and T20 cricket on the newer and smartphone-friendly generation.

Even as I was leaving to cover the IPL final between Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiant in Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, my son asked me if I want to have a bet on who will win.

With some innocence and mischief, he said Mumbai will beat Pune before listing down the names of superstars that Mumbai had in Rrrohit Sharrma (that's how he pronounces), Lasith Maaalinga, Jasprrit Bumrah and Kieron Pollard.

I tried to use my cricketing acumen to explain and convince him that Pune has got better of Mumbai three times before the finals. So, my money will be on Pune. The only glitch is that they don't have Ben Stokes for this game.

After few hours the game is over. Mumbai had beaten Pune by one run in a thrilling tie and my son could not stop gushing and teasing me about how he he got the winner right and then went off to sleep.

Having seen the trailers of the ICC Champions Trophy for which the tag line is 'Har koi har koi dekhega', which he kept humming. The son had all his eyes on the quadrennial event, thinking it is another T20 fast-paced cricket.

It was only in January that India had played 50-overs bilateral series with England.

He also came to know that India are the defending champions. He was just two when Dhoni's team had beaten England to win the crown.

But when he came to know that the Champions Trophy is a 50-50 event, his interest faded.

And this made me think about the debate over whether 50-overs cricket is facing a threat from T20 and IPL.

While the ICC Champions Trophy will be followed closely by many in India, can it excite the generation that likes to play stick cricket on smart phones?

If my son is any indication, the answer is an overwhelming no.