Three seconds might not be enough for too many things, but that one-twentieth of a minute was what Virat Kohli took to say “yes” to Sourav Ganguly’s proposal that India play a Day-Night Test against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens.
That is what the newly elected BCCI president said on Saturday, trying to dismiss talk of the Indian team’s reluctance to play the pink-ball Test, at a book-launch function of former International umpire Simon Taufel. The Australian’s book is titled Finding the Gaps.
During the India-Australia Test series Down Under in 2018-19, there was a possibility of a Day-Night Test in Adelaide. But Kohli & Co., it was said, had the turned down the proposal.
“I don’t know why and what was the reason that they did not want to play the Day-Night Test (in Adelaide). But when I met Virat after becoming the BCCI president, the first question I put to him was that we need to play Day-Night Tests. The answer came in three seconds, ‘let’s go ahead and do it’.
“So I really don’t know what happened in the past. But I found Virat absolutely acceptable to play Day-Night Test matches. He too realises that empty stands in Test matches is not the right way forward,” the former India captain said.
Adaptability, Sourav said, is the key to survival. “Adaptability is most important. Change is good, on most occasions. Sometimes when you are forced to come out of your comfort zone, it’s better,” he said.
Stressing on the importance of better organisation of Test matches, Sourav said: “Test cricket needs to be marketed a lot more. Last year, I could not believe that Australia were hosting India in a Test match in Adelaide and Big Bash was going on in another part of the country at the same time. It’s poor organisation. I think proper management of Test cricket will bring back the crowds to Test cricket.
“Hopefully, it’s a start for India. And India is the best place to do it.”
Taufel, who lost his mother before coming to India, echoed Sourav. “Adaptability is very important. Hope people approach this Day-Night Test with an open mind,” the five-time ICC Umpire of the Year said.
