In a bid to make Test cricket more appealing to the masses, the ICC introduced day-night Test matches and while Australia, England, West Indies and Pakistan have accepted the change, the Indian board has so far not been too keen to embrace the change.
However, with Sourav Ganguly all set to take charge as the BCCI president, this could see a change. The former India captain has made it obvious that with the World Test Championship having the advantage of the teams planning day-night matches, India also requires to move forth rather than hold back.
Chatting to IANS, Ganguly made it obvious that explaining the idea of the Indian team participating in the pink-ball cricket would be the priority of his list after he comes to office.
Indian team head coach Ravi Shastri had admitted to participate day-night Tests matches versus West Indies last year before choosing to notify the COA that the team wasn’t eager and would need a year and a half to prepare for the playing against the pink ball under lights.
The prevailing thought was that not having to play day-night Tests matches in the WTC was one of the purposes why Shastri and captain Kohli weren’t too keen on playing Test matches at night under lights.
But Ganguly showed that it would be incorrect to assume that the WTC wouldn’t see games played under lights.
“WTC has a day-night Test because Adelaide will entertain pink-ball Test match. I don’t think it is the right note to say that WTC wouldn’t have day-night Tests,” he stated.
A superior ICC executive also verified that there is a choice of playing test matches under lights in the WTC if both teams conform to the plan.
“With the approval of both members it can be a day-night or day affair in the WTC,” the official said IANS.
Ganguly has perpetually been vocal about how day-night games are the way to move forward and that this Indian team under Kohli has the armory to do fine in the format.
“Day-night Test is the way to move forward. Every nation has to play day-night Test, that’s a long-term prospect for Test cricket. India is a good side, they have the potential to win day-night Test matches also. There is no exception in day-night Test games and day Tests. It’s just a complex ball game. They are all class players, they can win games in any situation,” Ganguly stated.
