India set for Day-Night Tests against England and Australia, confirms Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly, the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that India are set to play Day-Night Tests against Australia and England. In India’s previous tour of Australia in 2018-19, the hosts proposed a pink-ball Test at the Adelaide Oval, but the BCCI didn’t agree to it. However, after Ganguly took charge, the Eden Gardens in Kolkata hosted India’s first Day-Night Test.

In the game versus Bangladesh, a number of dignitaries, including Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina graced their presence. The entire stadium was lighted in pink and India won the game by a comprehensive margin. Later this year, India are again scheduled to tour Australia for a Test, ODI and T20I series. The four Test matches will be a part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship.

England likely to tour India in January 2021

After the tour, England are most likely to tour India in January for five Tests. Prior to that, the Three Lions will be playing an ODI and T20I series in India in September-October. India, led by Virat Kohli, are currently on top of the table in the Test Championship, having won all their seven Tests. With 360 points under their belt, India are geared up to lock horns with New Zealand in a two-match series.

The opening game is scheduled to be played from February 21 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. Coming back to the Day-Night Test, Kohli said that India are ready for the pink-ball challenge. The Indian captain also sounded upbeat about the new version of Test cricket.

“We’re ready and up for the challenge – whether it’s Gabba, Perth… it doesn’t matter to us. It’s become a very exciting feature of any Test series and we’re open to playing day-night Tests,” Virat was quoted as saying ahead of India’s recent ODI series versus Australia.

When the Aussies toured India earlier this year in January, a Cricket Australia (CA) delegation had a chat with top BCCI officials regarding the possibility of hosting a Day-Night Test during the tour. Prior to the Kolkata Test, India and Bangladesh were the major Test playing nations, who didn’t play Day-Night Test. But an agreement between the BCCI and BCB made it possible.