The Virat Kohli-led Indian team could play its first pink-ball day-night Test against Bangladesh next month. India will host the neighbouring nation for three-match Twenty-20 International series (T20Is) which will be followed by two Tests and if a recent report is to be believed one of them could be played under the lights.
According to an Indian Express report, if there will be a pink-ball test or not would be discussed by BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and skipper Virat Kohli when the two meet on Thursday.
The first Test against Bangladesh will be played in Indore from November 14 while the second one is at Ganguly’s home venue Eden Gardens from 22nd November.
The former Indian captain has been a known advocate for the day-night Tests at a time when the traditional format has witnessed a major shrink in its popularity.
“Let’s see. Before talking to the team management, this needs the approval of the BCCI members. But I always believe that’s the way forward in Test cricket. Games are being played before empty stands,” the 47-year-old was quoted as saying last week
However, it has been learnt that the cricketer-turned-administrator would not impose his wish on the players and the final decision on the issue would be influenced by feedback from Kohli and the team management.
The Indian team management, though, has never been a supporter of the pink ball. The most popular notion is that there has not been much positive feedback about the SG-manufactured ball especially after it was used in Duleep Trophy for three seasons.
During last year’s West Indies series, the then-BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary had asked for the first Test at Rajkot to be a day-night game. But owing to the cricketers’ reluctance, the Committee of Administrators (CoA) had vetoed it.