India is ready to step into the spotlight for a pink ball Test as they face Bangladesh in the series finale in Kolkata, starting today. After resisting the trend for years, India is now adopting this format to help revitalize Test cricket and grow its audience. Although the concept launched back in 2015, it required a change in the BCCI's internal strategy for India to commit. Thanks to Ganguly's persuasion of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, this match will be played under floodlights, promising a truly spectacular event for the fans.
Since the first-ever pink-ball Test took place at Adelaide Oval between Australia and New Zealand in November 2015, the world has seen a total of 11 day-night Tests.
Kevin Roberts, the head of Australian cricket, had aimed to convince India of the merits of the day-night format during their scheduled 2020/21 visit to Adelaide. While ICC regulations currently give the visiting team the power to reject such scheduling requests from the home board, this rule could be updated. Even within India, the idea didn't gain traction until Ganguly pushed for it and secured Virat Kohli's backing.
Ganguly has gone all out to ensure this match is an unforgettable event. He has already ensured that the first three days will be a complete sell-out. To add to the excitement, the event will feature pink-ball mascots, Army paratroopers delivering the match ball, and a guest list filled with prominent figures from both sports and politics.
Beyond the fanfare, India is chasing their 12th straight home series win. Their bowling trio of Shami, Ishant, and Umesh dominated in Indore, claiming 14 wickets to secure a crushing victory by an innings and 130 runs in just three days. This win also marked a milestone for Virat Kohli, who earned his 10th innings victory as captain, surpassing the records of both MS Dhoni (9) and Mohammad Azharuddin (8). With India leading the series 1-0, the Indore result also tied their all-time record for the most consecutive Test wins at six.