Published 14:15 IST, October 25th 2019
Day-Night Test in India sooner than later but no "consensus" as yet
BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, after his meeting with Indian skipper Virat Kohli, has said that he has not taken any decision regarding Day-Night Tests yet
Sourav Ganguly has a very short time to 'revolutionalise' Indian cricket so he understands its better to start as a "reformer."As captain and now as BCCI President, Ganguly represents the "forward-looking progressive" world but is resisted by and confronted with the "traditional" and "orthodox" elements - those who do not want to move with times.
Ganguly's thoughts on Day-Night Tests
Ganguly, who believes cricket needs to readapt itself with changing scenario, is toying the idea of introducing pink-ball day and night Test cricket but not all in BCCI and the Indian team are convinced.
Ganguly was quoted as saying recently: “Day-night Test is the way forward. Every country has to play day-night Test — that’s a long-term future for Test cricket. India are a good side, they will win day-night Test matches also. There is no difference in day-night Test matches and day Tests. It’s just a different ball. They are such class players, they can win."
However, when Ganguly met Virat Kohli on the selection day on Thursday, he sensed that the idea may not get a favorable response from all players and team management including coach Ravi Shastri. Ganguly wanted one of the two-Test matches against Bangladesh next month to be held under the lights but he has to convince and clear it from the BCCI Apex Council taking into consideration the team's opinion and preference. Though principally they may be on the "same page" but the timing of its introduction is where the difference lies.
'No decision yet': Sourav Ganguly
So, after the meeting with Kohli, Ganguly said, “No decision on day-night Tests yet,” adding that the quality of pink balls in India needed to improve. Current playing conditions stipulated by the ICC say the home nation can host a day-night Test only when the visiting board agrees to it. So when Australia had proposed India to play the Adelaide Test under lights during the last tour of Australia in 2018, the BCCI had turned down the offer. India is the only top Test-playing nation along with Bangladesh not to have played the day-night version of the game.
Updated 15:01 IST, October 25th 2019