'Pink-ball Test at Eden Gardens felt like a World Cup final' - Sourav Ganguly

India thrashed Bangladesh in their first-ever pink-ball Day/Night Test at the Eden Gardens on Sunday. Virat Kohli and his troops crushed Bangladesh by an innings and 46 runs to sweep the series 2-0. Skipper Kohli led his side from the front and smashed a brilliant ton in India’s only innings of the Test match. India outclassed Bangladesh in all three departments and extended their lead at the top of World Test Championship‘s points table.

India’s pace trio of Umesh Yadav, Mohd Shami and Ishant Sharma annihilated the ‘Tigers’ by showcasing lethal spells with the pink ball. Yadav cleaned up Bangladesh’s batting line-up by picking up a fifer in the second innings. While Ishant Sharma was named the Man of the Match for his nine wickets in the match and Man of the Series for his 12 wickets overall. India have gathered 360 points in World Test Championship by sweeping three Test series, followed by Australia with 180 points.

Sourav Ganguly reminisced memories of the iconic 2001 Test against Australia

On the eve of India’s inaugural Day/Night Test, Eden Gardens witnessed packed stands in all three days of the encounter and even the tickets for the fourth day were sold out. Reflecting upon the jam-packed stands at Eden Gardens, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly reminisced memories of the iconic 2001 Test against Australia in Kolkata.

“Oh! It is an absolutely amazing feeling. Feels great. Look for yourself. It brings back memories of the 2001 Test match if you ask me. This is what Test cricket should be, packed stadiums,” said the newly-elected BCCI President.

“Just take a look around. Do you see this? Have you seen this in Test cricket? When was the last time you had a capacity crowd watching a Test match? Feels like it is a World Cup final,” Sourav Ganguly was quoted by IndiaToday.

India are next scheduled to lock horns with New Zealand in the longest format of the game. When asked if India are considering to play a Day/Night Test against New Zealand in 2020, Ganguly said that nothing has been decided as of now. However, he seemed excited to see the crowd reception in future when top teams like Australia and England would lock horns with India in Pink-ball Tests.

“Too early to talk of the future. We will all sit down and discuss the way ahead after this one. But just imagine the frenzy if you have teams like England, South Africa and Australia playing pink-ball Tests against India. Think what the crowd will get to witness,” said Ganguly.

[interaction id=”5dc6bf20173fc165efba1101″]