India to Host First Day-Night Test at Eden Gardens

Sourav Ganguly seems to be calling the shots in his role as BCCI President. One major announcement made after Ganguly ascending the throne is India hosting its first-ever Day-Night Test. With limited experience and exposure with the team to play pink-ball cricket, it will make for an interesting game against Bangladesh.

Sourav Ganguly fondly remembered as Dada, the former India captain was known for his bold moves and new ideas. Be it getting Virender Sehwag to open the innings and making the game much more exciting or removing his shirt on the Lords balcony, he strived hard to make the Indian cricket team formidable.

As soon as he took over the reins of administration from the Supreme Court appointed CoA Vinod Rai on the recommendations of the Lodha committee, he has brought the Day-Night tests to India.

In his role as the president of BCCI, the Prince of Kolkata, Sourav Ganguly seems to be no different. As soon as he took over the reins of administration from the Supreme Court appointed CoA Vinod Rai on the recommendations of the Lodha committee, he has brought the Day-Night tests to India.

Later next month, when India and Bangladesh will play each other in the second Test of two match series at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India will host its first Day-Night Test. While the concept of the Day-Night Tests has found place in the game a couple of years ago, India has been reluctant to embrace it.

Almost all Test playing nations have till date been part of at least one game of Day-Night Test cricket barring India.

Almost all Test playing nations have till date been part of at least one game of Day-Night Test cricket barring India. In this game, even though India are billed to be the favorites, they also go in as novices.

Why would I call a Test team with experienced players novices?

While a few players in the squad have played with the pink ball in domestic tournaments, none of them have played pink ball cricket internationally.

While a few players in the squad have played with the pink ball in domestic tournaments, none of them have played pink ball cricket internationally. It is mostly the bowlers who have had a go at it while playing in the Duleep Trophy that they had a crack at it.

The usage of the pink ball later was stopped in the Duleep Trophy games as the spinners objected to it on the grounds that dew coming in during the nights was becoming a hindrance in bowling long spells.

Test cricket in India is synonymous for great batting and spin bowling. With half the charm being taken away from the Test game of the sub-continent, it remains challenge how will the Indian spinners fare in adverse conditions at home.

The other interesting point to note, none of the Indian batting mainstays apart from Cheteshwar Pujara and Mayank Agarwal have played pink ball cricket.

The other interesting point to note, none of the Indian batting mainstays apart from Cheteshwar Pujara and Mayank Agarwal have played pink ball cricket. So, it just won’t be an adjustment and a test for the bowlers, the batsmen have their own share of problems.

The date is set. India will play their first Day-Night Test at the iconic Eden Gardens on 22 November. It will be interesting to see how India fare against Bangladesh in this day-night encounter.

Photos sourced by the author from the Internet