It’s hard and heavy as hockey ball: Virat

Kolkata, Nov. 21: The pink ball feels like a “heavy hockey ball” to Virat Kohli, who is extremely wary of the challenges its weight, hardness and colour could pose while fielding. Indian cricket will finally embrace the pink revolution when Kohli’s formidable team lock horns with a deflated Bangladesh in their maiden Day/Night Test starting here on Friday.

“One thing that surprised me was the fielding sessions. In the slips balls hit so hard it almost felt like a heavy hockey ball, all those synthetic ball that we’re used to play with in the younger days,” Kohli said on the eve of the match.

“It’s purely because of the extra glaze on the ball, it is definitely much more harder. For some reason it felt heavy and even the throws took a lot more effort than the red colour to reach the wicketkeeper,” the skipper said.

India had their first brush with the SG pink ball after they wrapped up the opening Test inside three days in Indore.

“I think during the day, high catches will be very difficult. With the red or white ball you have the idea of when the ball reaches you but with the pink ball if you don’t look at it your palms are gone.

“Fielding session for me was far more challenging. People are going to be surprised how challenging it can be,” he added,

Visibility in twilight has also been cited as one of the biggest challenges.

“Not having a great visibility and the ability to pick that colour makes it even more difficult. The decision making has to be very precise like the idea of off stumps. Even when we practised yesterday we felt as if the ball is far but it hits you very quickly. The extra glaze of the ball is making it travel faster. It hits the hand hard,” Kohli said. — PTI