Day-night Test cricket with the pink ball is an exciting innovation that allows fans to watch Test matches during evening hours, making the longest format of the game more accessible and engaging for a wider audience.
India started hosting such special Tests in 2019, and they have staged 4 pink ball Test matches so far, having won 3 of them. Virat Kohli is the first Indian batsman to score a century in Pink Ball Tests; he created history at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
What is a Day-Night Test Match?
Day-night Test match is a standard Test match with one exception: the players play with the pink ball rather than the red ball.
It starts in the afternoon and continues well into the night under light. It is fan-friendly because it gives them the chance to watch after work or school. It began because not all fans were able to view Test cricket during regular hours.
Test cricket was to be played with a pink ball because floodlights make the red ball hard to see. After years of joint research and development, the pink ball was introduced, leading to the first official day-night Test match.
The First Ever Day-Night Test
It was Adelaide Oval where the world’s first day-night Test match with a pink ball took place in 2015, between Australia and New Zealand. Cricket Australia was the first cricket board to go out and do something this huge.
The game proved to be an unconditional hit with houseful crowds and millions of people viewing it on television worldwide. The match was won by Australia by 3 wickets, and the day-night Test cricket was proven possible that day.
India’s First Pink Ball Test
India wasn’t all that keen on hosting day-night Tests in the first place. Players and the Indian board had doubts about the pink ball and how it would perform in Indian conditions. However, pressure from fans finally compelled India to give it a go. India hosted their inaugural pink ball Test match on November 22, 2019, at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens against Bangladesh.
The ICC World Test Championship match was wrapped up early on Day 3 with the home side winning by an innings and 46 runs to clinch the series 2-0. It was an instant crowd-popper with the new game format, enjoyed to the fullest. The legendary Eden Gardens ground was filled to the brim with crazed fans who had never witnessed pink ball cricket. The Indian team was restless before the game because they hardly practiced with the pink ball. However, as soon as the game started, they performed great.
[Report] Complete List of India’s Pink Ball Tests
India conducted four pink ball Test matches after 2019. The team gained something new from every single one of the matches.
India vs Bangladesh – Eden Gardens, Kolkata (22-24 Nov, 2019)
- Result: India by an innings and 46 runs
India played their first-ever pink ball cricket match, and they dominated the game without any doubt. The match lasted for three days as India bowled Bangladesh twice.
India vs England – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (24-25 Feb 2021)
- Result: India won by 10 wickets
It was history’s shortest pink-ball Test, ending in just two days. The spinners were greatly assisted by the pitch, and India’s spinners proved too much for England.
India vs Sri Lanka – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru (12-14 Mar 2022)
- Result: India won by 238 runs
Another flawless performance by India at home. Both the seam bowlers and the spinners achieved a record-breaking victory.
India vs Pakistan – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (December 6-10, 2024)
- Result: Australia won (latest match)
First pink ball Test overseas for India, and they fought so much tougher. Coping with Australia in conditions half-and-half was a gigantic challenge.
[Revealed] Pink Ball Statistics
India has played 4 pink ball Test matches so far and has won 3, hence their win percentage is 75%. They also possess a flawless home record with 3 victories in 3 home matches in India. However, they are not that good abroad, with 0 wins in 1 match played in Australia. It indicates that India is much better at pink ball cricket at home, but has to do better overseas.
Virat Kohli was the first Indian batsman to have registered a hundred in Pink Ball Tests. He had scored 136 runs vs Bangladesh in Kolkata in 2019, which was India’s first pink ball Test match. Mayank Agarwal scored a century in the very same game with 120 runs. These two centuries were registered in India’s first pink ball Test, which shows how accustomed the team had become to this new format.
The pink ball is ahead of the conventional red ball used in usual Test matches. The pink ball swings more in the air, and it is hard for batsmen to attempt their shots. The ball is hard to see in the evening when the sun begins to set and floodlights are barely lighting. The pink ball degrades and breaks down at a faster pace compared to the red ball, and the bowlers get more help due to the extra movement to get wickets.
Special Highlights
- Historic First: India’s first-ever pink ball Test at Eden Gardens viewed by millions of TV spectators
- Perfect Start: India’s first three pink ball Tests at home – impeccable record
- Virat’s Milestone: Virat Kohli, the first Indian to score a century in pink ball Tests
- Quick Wins: Most of India’s pink ball Tests were finished in 4 days
- Home Comfort: India never lost a home pink ball Test
- Backyard Popularity: Eden Gardens Pink Ball Test was viewed by 43 million
- Different Test: Pink ball cricket presents a different challenge to the abilities of players
- Global Reach: Day-night Tests are being played in more and more nations from all over the world
Amit Mishra’s Personal Take
Pink ball Day-night Test cricket is a wonderful innovation that has been able to make the game’s longest format trendy among young fans without sacrificing its essence. India’s very own journey from reluctance to a 75% win rate for pink ball Tests is an indicator of how easily the teams can adapt if the format can stand the test of time.As a cricket fan myself, the pink ball format is intriguing, and I believe all cricket enthusiasts will want to experience such a match someday. India’s inaugural pink ball Test reached 43 million viewers, who had been shut out of Test cricket due to its daytime timing. The pink ball’s unique characteristics of greater swing introduces a strategy to bring more crowd to the game.
