India likely to play its first ever Day-Night Test in Kolkata against Bangladesh

With the Bangladesh players calling off their strike, their India tour is set to go ahead as planned. They are first scheduled to play three T20 Internationals followed by a couple of Tests. The second Test is set to be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata and if the recent developments are to be believed, India and Bangladesh might play it under the lights.

The newly appointed BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has always been in favour of playing the Day-Night Tests with less response from the crowd in the day matches. And it is very much possible that he will discuss the matter with the India captain Sourav Ganguly when they will meet on Thursday.

However, according to Indian Express, Ganguly will not impose the decision on the team and the views of the team management will also be taken into consideration. The first Test will be played in Indore and at the moment, there is a 50% chance that one of the two Tests will be played under lights.

Team India reluctant to play D/N Tests

Team India has always had its reservations about playing the Tests with Pink ball under the lights. Only India and Bangladesh have not played a day-night Test so far. Last year, when West Indies were to tour India, the then BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary wanted the first Test to be a day-night affair. But the CoA vetoed it stating that the players were reluctant to play.

“Let’s see. Before talking to the team management, this needs the approval of the BCCI members. But I always believe that’s the way forward in Test cricket. Games are being played before empty stands,” Ganguly had said last week while speaking to the reporters.

BCCI has tried organising the Duleep Trophy with pink ball previously. But the SG Pink ball didn’t get the positive feedback from the players. Having said that, Sourav Ganguly had introduced pink ball matches in local cricket after taking charge of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and he might work on it as BCCI President too.

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