D/N Test cannot be a regular feature: Kohli
Kolkata: Indian cricket will finally embrace the pink revolution after initial reluctance when Virat Kohli’s seemingly infallible galacticos lock horns with a deflated Bangladesh in their maiden Day/Night Test starting here on Friday.
However, India skipper feels that Day/Night Test can be a “one-off thing but not a regular scenario,” asserting that beauty of facing a red cherry on a nervy morning shouldn’t be compromised for entertainment’s sake.
It took India a new BCCI regime under maverick former captain Sourav Ganguly to take the pink ball plunge, a good seven years after the International Cricket Council approved the format to revive interest in Tests. Ganguly convinced the Bangladesh Cricket Board to agree to a Day/Night Test just a few days before their team was to land in India. So far, 11 Day/Night Tests have been played worldwide since Australia set the ball rolling against their Trans-Tasmanian rivals New Zealand four years ago in Adelaide. Australia had proposed a Day/Night Test at the same venue against India last year but the wary tourists didn’t agree to the proposal.
At home too, the Indians were not open to the idea until Ganguly stepped into the picture within a week of taking charge of the BCCI. The bone of contention was the SG pink ball, which many still believe is difficult to sight after sunset. Add to it the dew factor, which players believe aggravates the bowlers’ problems. But Ganguly found Kohli on the same page and the current Indian captain took just “three seconds” to agree to the Board President’s idea. So far, the build-up to the Test has been smooth.
A sellout crowd for the first four days has been managed, something that has been the primary goal of playing the traditional format under lights. Amid all the hype, there is also the small matter of India bracing up for a 12th successive home series victory. The challenge for the players would be when the dew comes in. (PTI)
