India Gears Up For Pink Test

On November 22, Virat Kohli's India will take on Bangladesh in a historic Day-night Test with many dignitaries from several fields set to be in attendance. The Indian team did not train under the lights and the throwdowns with the SG pink ball was part of the traditional red-ball practice session.

In 2018, BCCI had turned down an offer to play a day-night Test in Australia. For the record, 11 Day-night Tests have been played so far and Australia is the most dominant team with 5 wins in 5 matches.

It was skipper Kohli, who first faced the pink ball. With throwdown specialists Raghavendra and Sri Lankan Nuwan Seneviratne hurling the pink stuff at express pace. He suggested that the skipper was comfortable enough. The Indian team will get only two full training days ahead of their first day/night Test at the Eden Gardens, starting November 22.

Aware that not much time is in hand, the BCCI had arranged a couple of pink ball sessions under lights for the Test specialists for India team.

Once Kohli was done and went into the main nets, the other top-order batsmen including Cheteshwar Pujara mixed and matched, facing red and pink ball simultaneously. Young reserve opener Shubman Gill seemed to have taken a hit when one of the deliveries bounced extra but it was not serious.

The idea behind the pink Ball was given by Sourav Ganguly. Test cricket has been struggling to get its share of viewership. So, the whole idea behind this day-night match is to get the spectator interested in Tests once again. Day/Night Test was successful in convincing both the teams to make their debut with the pink ball.