'Ahmedabad is completely sold out' - Sourav Ganguly throws light on excitement around the 3rd Test

Sourav Ganguly has been a huge advocate of day-night Test cricket for a long time. So, when he became the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2019, he decided to bring the experience to the Indian fans with the first pink-ball Test against Bangladesh in Kolkata in 2019. Now, the country will witness the second day-night Test when India takes on England in the third Test in the ongoing series. 

During a recent interaction, the board president revealed that all the tickets for the day-night match had been sold out. He revealed that there is a lot of excitement around the pink-ball Test. Kolkata had put up a spectacle during the first day night Test and fans can’t wait more for next such event.

On top of that, this will be the first international cricket match to be played in Ahmedabad since 2014. The Old Motera stadium was completely demolished and a new world-class stadium was built in its place. The new Sardar Patel stadium is now the largest cricket stadium in the world with a capacity of 1,10,000 people. 

One pink-ball Test in a series is ideal: BCCI president Sourav Ganguly

“Ahmedabad is completely sold out. I speak to Jay Shah and he’s very keen on these Test matches. Just for him also cricket is coming back to Ahmedabad after six-seven years because they built the new stadium, and I have told him we have set an example with the pink-ball Test last year in Kolkata, so it cannot go beyond that and we want to see every seat and stand full. And that’s what it is, the tickets have gone, as well as for the T20s which will follow the Tests,” Ganguly told Star Sports.

No crowd was allowed when the series started in Chennai. But, in the second Test, a large number of people came out to support the Indian team, when 50% of tickets were being sold for the match. Ganguly also said that it is ideal for every series to have a pink-ball Test, as that would help in keeping the longest form of cricket alive. 

“Absolutely. One pink-ball Test in a series is ideal. Every generation goes through changes, the pink ball is one of the main changes for Test match cricket, and to keep Test match cricket alive. I think with the packed stadium in Ahmedabad next week, it will be another great sight for everyone,” Ganguly added.