Live: IND Vs BAN 2nd Test | Day 1 | Live Scores and Commentary | 2019 Series The Virat Kohli-led Indian cricket team will tale on Bangladesh in their maiden Day-Night Test beginning in Kolkata on Friday (November 22). So far, 11 Day/Night Tests have been played worldwide since Australia set the ball rolling against rivals New Zealand four years ago in Adelaide. Amid all the hype of the historic first-ever pink ball Test for either side, there’s also the sub-plot of India bracing for a 12th successive home series victory. The challenge for the players would be when the dew comes in to play after the sun sets early and it remains to be seen how both the teams and the groundsmen cope with the pink ball.
Finally, the 'pink day' is upon us. The most talked-about event over the last few weeks in the world of cricket is set to engulf us in pink wraps and a twilight envelope.
'Daunting, intimidating, exciting' were words India skipper Virat Kohli used to describe the emotions that could be experienced on Friday, the opening day of the first-ever day-night Test in India. He expects the energy level to be very high in the first hour, and that will make it all the more exciting. The galaxy of stars who will be witness to history are sure to take the event beyond cricket.
There are several factors that should work in India's favour. Firstly, the menacing pace battery of Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma, who ran through Bangladesh on a decent track in Indore. The trio would have rubbed their hands in glee when they saw grass on the pitch.
The pace attack of Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav wrapped up the Indore Test inside three days with an innings and 130 runs victory – the 10th innings win for India. The pace attack along with the blazing form of the new-found opening duo – Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal – has been the story of the season in Indian cricket. The pacers took 14 wickets in Indore and none of them look like they would need the additional movement or help from the pink ball to wreak havoc at the Eden Gardens. Already at the top of the World Test Championship standings, India would look to consolidate their position after another series victory.
The third would be momentum. Clearly, India are on a roll and would be more aggressive. Bangladesh will most probably go into the game with a defensive mindset, keen on lasting for five days.
For India, the bigger challenge would be conquering the conditions. Practice sessions have thrown up some surprises, which they have to deal with. Kohli spoke about two areas of concern that need to be addressed. 'The idea of off stump... that's going to be crucial. Yesterday during practice, we felt the ball could be closer to you, but actually it wasn't. So I think we have to be careful about that channel,' he said on Thursday.
The other concern surfaced during fielding drills. 'We were quite surprised at how the ball hit your hand so hard in the slips. It felt like a heavy hockey ball. It was like the synthetic ball we played with when we were young. It was definitely harder and felt a little heavy. Even the throws took a lot more effort (than red ball) to reach the wicketkeeper,' he said.
Although many of the Indian players have been practising with pink ball, it continues to throw up challenges that can be addressed only during matches. The dip perception, for instance, has been deceptive. 'During the day, high catches will be very difficult. We had to watch the ball straight into our palms more often than not,' the skipper said.
On Thursday, India preferred to practice in the morning while Bangladesh had a feel of the twilight conditions.
While a handful of Indian players have pink-ball experience, having played three domestic seasons of Duleep Trophy under lights, the Bangladeshi squad would be facing the challenge for the first time. Bangladesh have struggled in batting and only Mushfiqur Rahim posted a 50-plus score in the Indore Test. Having been handed the captaincy after Shakib Al Hasan's suspension for failure to report approaches from a suspicious individual, Mominul Haque is struggling to handle the pressure. In such a scenario, the skipper may find some inspiration from his pacers, especially Abu Jayed, who impressed in the Indore Test.
India: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddiman Saha (wk),Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Hanuma Vihari, Kuldeep Yadav and Shubman Gill.
Bangladesh: Mominul Haque (c), Liton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan, Nayeem Hasan, Al-Amin Hossain, Ebadot Hossain, Mossadek Hossain, Shadman Islam, Taijul Islam, Abu Jayed, Imrul Kayes, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mustafizur Rahman.
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