India captain Virat Kohli, who is all set to play his maiden day-night Test against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens, has agreed to the idea of playing a pink-ball match in Australia next year. However, the 31-year-old has demanded a practice match ahead of the fixture.
“Whenever it is held, there should be a practice game before,” Kohli said in Kolkata on Thursday.
India had been away from playing day-night Tests since the first pink-ball game in Adelaide between Australia and New Zealand in 2015. Kohli & Co. also refused to play a Test under lights in Australia last year.
Ahead of his side’s first day-night Test against Bangladesh starting on Friday, the skipper spoke elaborately about why he had apprehensions on earlier occasions.
“Obviously, we wanted to get a feel of pink-ball cricket. Eventually, it had to happen. But you can’t just bring those things up before a big tour and suddenly in the schedule, there is a pink ball Test, when we have not even practiced with a pink ball. We have not played any first-class game with the pink ball,” Kohli said.
“It can’t be that sudden,” he added while referring to India’s last tour of Australia.
The Indian talisman then opened up about the need for preparation before playing a Test match under lights and added that if it is planned well in advance, he has no problem with it.
“You can’t just go in two days before and say you’re playing a pink-ball Test in a week’s time. We didn’t really think it was logical from that point of view. It needed a bit of preparation. Once you get used to playing it there’s no problem playing at all. You can plan in advance. We just thought it was spontaneous,” he added further.
As far as the ongoing Test series is concerned, India leads the two-match rubber 1-0 after a comprehensive win in Indore.
