India suffered a heavy 10-wicket defeat at the hands of Australia in the second test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at the Adelaide Oval and the debacle has reignited the debate surrounding the pink-ball and day-night test match cricket. Even though India is considered a cricketing powerhouse with a proven track record in the toughest of conditions, a lack of experience with the pink ball was the prime culprit behind India’s loss at Adelaide and in the process, highlighted a glaring gap in the preparation of modern-day test match cricket.
India’s Performance In Perth vs In Adelaide
The Adelaide test match, a day-night fixture, saw India struggle under the lights, a stark contrast to their performance in the first test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Optus Stadium, Perth. Despite having some of the world’s finest players—Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jasprit Bumrah—India was caught off guard by the pink-ball’s unpredictable movement and the unfamiliar batting conditions in a test match at night. It was tough to get familiar with the pink-ball’s behavior, especially in lights, as India collapsed in both their batting and bowling performances.
Pink-Ball Turns Out To Be A Test For India
The main issue has been India’s lack of exposure to pink-ball cricket. A format that is ever-so-present in international test match cricket, especially in Australia. The pink-ball swings very differently than the red-ball, as well as being much brighter to see, which translates to playability under artificial lights. This means the cricketers have to learn different techniques and strategies, all of which India’s men are still getting used to.
India Needs Regular Pink-Ball Exposure In Home Tests
To avoid such shocking losses in future day-night test matches, it is essential for India to make pink-ball cricket a regular feature in their home season. With the top level facilities in arenas like the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad now available, it presents an ideal venue for hosting a day-night test match, with the best facilities and infrastructure for such an event. Alternatively, the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, known for its lively crowd and an excellent wicket, could also host such matches, drawing full-capacity crowds and maximizing ticket sales, if at all revenue is a concern.
India Must Embrace Pink-Ball Tests
Just as Australia has included the pink-ball test in their calendar for their home series, India must do the same and make sure that their players get enough practice to get accustomed to the day-night format. Regular exposure to day-night test matches would help Indian cricketers understand the challenges of playing with the pink ball and provide the necessary practice to master its peculiarities.
A Wake-Up Call for India
Ultimately, India’s loss in Adelaide serves as a wake-up call. If they are to compete successfully in day-night test matches, both at home and abroad, they need to make the pink-ball format a permanent fixture in their test cricket calendar.
What is your opinion on inclusion of pink-ball day-night test matches in the yearly calendar for every Indian cricket home-season?
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Shetye
