In late this year, India will tour Australia for the international series as well as the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. During the Test series of this tour, India will play a day/night pink-ball Test as they have agreed to play it. Later, in the early next year, during the home Test series against England, India will play another day/night pink-ball Test match. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have given green signals for both these matches.
When India toured in Australia in 2018/19 season, they played the four-match Test series along with the other limited-overs series. Ahead of that Test series, the Cricket Australia (CA) asked the Indian team to play a day/night Test.
However, the Indian team denied playing a day/night pink-ball Test on that tour due to lack of time for the preparation. At that time, India hadn’t played a day/night pink-ball Test match yet. Meanwhile, Australia already played the day/night pink-ball Test for four times and won all those matches.
After Sourav Ganguly became BCCI President last October, he arranged India’s first day/night pink-ball Test match. It was the Test match against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens (Kolkata) in late November.
Later, the Indian captain Virat Kohli also agreed to play the day/night pink-ball Test match in future if they get enough preparation time.
The latest media reports are claiming that India are likely to play one day/night pink-ball Test match during their Australia tour in 2020/21 summer.
A BCCI source told PTI, “India are most likely to play a day/night Test during the Australia tour.”
In this upcoming tour, they will play the four-match Test series, likely from late November. This Test series will be the part of 2019-21 ICC World Test Championship.
During India tour of Australia 2018/19, India won the four-match Test series by the 2-1 margin. It was India’s first-ever Test series victory in Australia.
Ahmedabad can host the day/night pink-ball Test match between India and England in early 2021; BCCI President confirms upcoming day/night Test match
On the other hand, after the completion of the next Australia tour, England will visit in India for the five-match Test series. This Test series will also be the part of 2019-21 ICC World Test Championship. While the home Test series against England is likely to begin in the middle of January 2021, they will play one day/night pink-ball Test match during that series.
BCCI President Sourav Ganguly recently said after the Apex Council meeting in Delhi,“Day-night Test will happen and we will make a public announcement — the second Test against England next year. Yes, against Australia also.”
While Kolkata hosted India’s first day/night pink-ball Test match, refurbished Sardar Patel Stadium (Ahmedabad) is the front runner to host the next day/night pink-ball Test match in this country.