As India wrapped up its historic first day-night Test match at Eden Gardens, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly expressed his awe at the crowd's energy. In a conversation with IANS, he highlighted the rare sight of a completely full stadium in Test cricket, noting that the fans' enthusiasm and the flashing lights made the event feel like a high-stakes World Cup final.
Ganguly mentioned that the occasion brought back vivid memories of the 2001 clash against Australia at Eden Gardens, a game famous for the heroic partnership between Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman that secured a stunning comeback win for India.
Reflecting on the experience, Ganguly described the feeling as absolutely incredible. He emphasized that packed stadiums are the heartbeat of the game, recalling his own time leading the Indian squad and stating that this is exactly how Test cricket should be experienced.
The success of India's first pink-ball Test gave Sourav Ganguly plenty to celebrate, especially considering the board's previous reluctance to adopt the day-night format. It was a significant shift in direction, with Ganguly working to ensure the transition to this new style of Test cricket was a success from the start.
To make the event a true spectacle, Ganguly curated a high-profile guest list. The match was graced by various sports icons, prominent members of the Indian cricket fraternity, and political dignitaries, including the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina.
Kolkata was practically bathed in pink to celebrate the match, and the action on the field matched the city's excitement. The Indian team delivered a powerhouse performance, highlighted by a dominant display from the fast bowlers and a brilliant 27th Test century from Virat Kohli. While Ganguly mentioned that no concrete plans are set in stone for future day-night Tests, he admitted that the prospect of hosting powerhouses like England or Australia in a pink-ball series in India would be thrilling.
Talking about the future of India team and day-night Test series, BCCI President Ganguly told nothing was chosen as for now, however said that the possibility of facing players like Australia and England in pink-ball Tests in India was an exciting one.