Buzz in India around pink ball Test

Kolkata – Skipper Virat Kohli (right) said yesterday he welcomed the “buzz” around India’s grand day-night Test debut but said that pink-ball matches should not become a regular occurence.

India begin their pink ball journey against Bangladesh today in Kolkata, with the first four days sold out, contrasting with daytime Tests in India when crowds are often sparse.

“This can be a one-off thing. It should not in my opinion become a regular scenario, because then you are losing out on that nervousness of the first session in the morning,” Kohli said.

“The entertainment of Test cricket lies in the fact that the batsman is trying to survive a session and the bowler trying to get a batsman out.

“It’s great to create more buzz around Test cricket,” he added.

Day-night Tests, aimed at increasing crowds and TV audiences for the longer format, were successfully introduced in 2015 when Australia played New Zealand in Adelaide.

England, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies have all played at least one daynight Test.

But until now India has kept away, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) last year refusing to play a day-night Test in Adelaide.

“Obviously we wanted to get a feel of pink-ball cricket. Eventually it had to happen,” said Kohli.

India lead the two-match series 1-0 after thrashing Bangladesh in a daylight Test at Indore inside three days.

A striking spectacle is planned for the start of the Test today – it is also Bangladesh’s pink ball debut – with Bangladesh prime minister and the local chief minister set to begin proceedings by ringing the stadium bell.

Kohli said the occasion reminded him of the 2016 World Twenty20 clash with arch-rivals Pakistan at Eden Gardens which witnessed a host of big names including current Pakistan prime minister and former cricketer Imran Khan,

The Indian star batsman said he was excited to become part of history but the pink ball had its challenges compared to the regular red ball. –