BCCI to use pink ball in Ranji Trophy

After successfully trying out the pink ball in the Duleep Trophy, the BCCI has now decided to use the pink ball in the Ranji Trophy as well. The suggestion to include day-night games in Ranji Trophy were made by the national selection committee. Selectors Vikram Rathore and Saba Karim confirmed the initiative on Saturday.

“From the selectors’ side, we are very happy with the outcome. We have told BCCI to have at least one Ranji game per round with pink ball under lights so that players get used to it,” said Rathore to The Indian Express.

Explaining his feelings towards the new development Rathore said, “We need to check how it performs on bald surfaces devoid of grass. Yes, reverse swing is an issue right now as the ball is not moving the other way. But these things can be worked out if BCCI sits with ball manufacturers. They must also be thinking about improvisation. There is more lacquer on the pink ball but we need to check how it performs when it gets scuffed up.”

“These are exciting times for cricket in the longer format. The pink-ball initiative is in the right direction,” Karim further added. The upcoming Ranji Trophy will see the likes of several Indian first choice test players participating such as Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Shikhar Dhawan and Amit Mishra.

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However, Karim and Rathore felt that there were still some areas of concern about the pink ball, especially from the bowlers’ point of view. The feedback from the batsmen has been positive.

“We need to check how it performs on bald surfaces devoid of grass. Yes, reverse swing is an issue right now as the ball is not moving the other way. But these things can be worked out if BCCI sits with ball manufacturers. They must also be thinking about improvisation. There is more lacquer on the pink ball but we need to check how it performs when it gets scuffed up,” Rathour explained. However, visibility is not an issue, said both Rathour and Karim.

“We have spoken to the players and they feel that visibility is not an issue. Most of the batsmen felt that they are not having problems in sighting the ball under lights. About the issue of the black seam, I guess it has got a lot to do with practice. The more you play, the better you get at it.

The pink ball concept was laid out to attract more visitor to the stadium. The experiment seems to be working greatly as a good amount of crowd was in attendance during the Duleep trophy games.

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“That’s why Ranji matches need to be played with the pink ball,” Rathour said that the popularity and crowd factor should also be taken into account.

“I have been watching Duleep Trophy games for last four years. I don’t remember having seen such a packed crowd in a domestic game,” said Rathour, pointing at the close to 3000- odd people, who had gathered to watch the India stars in action.

The 83rd Ranji Trophy is set to start from October 6.