Day-Night Test will boost the five-day format: Cheteshwar Pujara
What's the story
Middle-order Indian Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored a half-century in the ongoing second Test (Day-Night) against Bangladesh in Kolkata, is all praise for the format.
With almost a packed house on the opening two days and the crowd thoroughly enjoying the Indian performance, Pujara has backed Test cricket to come alive once again, courtesy Day-Night Tests.
Here's more on why he feels so.
Fans
Pujara motivated with more fans flocking in
Pujara said that the notable difference in this Test was that fans in large numbers had flocked into the stadium.
This motivated him, and other players, to perform better.
"As players, we do enjoy this atmosphere, especially when we are fielding. When you are batting, you are always concentrating on the ball. Bowlers need a lot of support," said Pujara.
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I am sure the crowd is also enjoying it: Pujara
"When we are fielding, the moment the crowd starts supporting the bowler and fielders, it is a great atmosphere. The bowlers are always charged up. It is a nice atmosphere, although the game might not go on until day four," added Pujara.
Difficult
Pujara admits it is difficult to bat under the lights
Speaking on batting against the pink ball, Pujara admitted that the twilight phase was the most difficult to bat, besides asserting that the opening session was the easiest.
Notably, the ball tends to swing more under the lights.
"It is a bit challenging. And, also the kind of experience we have, most of the Test matches we've played are during the day," he remarked.
SG balls
Pujara believes SG ball is swinging more than Kookaburra
The quality of the SG balls was an issue prior to the start. However, it has received positive reviews from a lot.
Meanwhile, Pujara feels that there is no notable difference compared to Kookaburra, although the SG ball tends to swing and spin more.
"When I played Duleep Trophy with the Kookaburra ball, I don't think there was much assistance for spinners," he recalled.
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Pink balls don't spin as much as red, reckons Pujara
"We saw when Taijul was bowling, he got a little spin, and Ashwin also got a little bit of spin. So, I think there's little more assistance for spinners. But, it is still not as much as a red ball," concluded Pujara.
Opinion
Ganguly backs pink ball visibility, Warne wants India-Australia D/N Test
As for the ongoing D/N Test, while the visibility of the ball is still being questioned, the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly spoke on the same, saying, "It's actually easier than the red ball."
Meanwhile, following the success of the Test, legendary Australian spinner has requested India to play a Day-Night Test against Australia in Adelaide, when the team tours Down Under, next year.
A different Test
How has the Test been different so far?
The following factors have played a huge role in making this Test different:
Pink visibility is still a question with as many as two players being substituted.
Both the days saw a packed house, with over 40,000 fans flocking the venue.
India's strategic planning on Day 2 to declare and bowl during the twilight phase worked out, as Bangladesh witnessed a collapse.