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India not to play Day-Night Tests against Australia, West Indies

India were to host West Indies in Rajkot for a Day-Night Test.

Virat Kohli was already against the Day-Night concept © AFP
Virat Kohli was already against the Day-Night concept © AFP

After all the hullabaloo over Day-Night Tests which was expected to be played later this year against Australia and West Indies, BCCI have rejected the proposal. Although Cricket Australia (CA) were looking forward to the concept in Adelaide this year, the BCCI have put their foot down on the same. BCCI have given away no reason but they believe the concept has no future. Even when the ICC Test Championship would be played after the 2019 World Cup, the ICC rules do not include Day-Night Tests or four-day Tests.

The sources who are aware of the developments told The Times of India (TOI), “If the ICC board has completely disregarded it, why should the onus be on the BCCI to participate in the concept? The BCCI doesn’t see any point in pursuing with the idea of a day-night Test at all.” It is also understood BCCI have asked CA to have India’s warm-up games held at SCG and not any university grounds in order to give the players proper feel of the venues in Australia.

India would also not be hosting West Indies ahead of their Australia tour. BCCI’s Tours and Fixtures Committee had zeroed down on Rajkot as the venue. The whole idea of having a Day-Night Test against West Indies was to provide the players an idea of playing pink-ball cricket, “The idea was to set a precedent but now there’s no need for it. There’s no need for any practice either because India is neither going to play the Adelaide Test under lights nor any (such matches) in the future,” added the sources.

Virat Kohli’s views on Day-Night Test: 

When the talks of Day-Night Tests were brewing, Kohli was against the concept as well. Kohli was not sure of how many sessions should be played under the light. Usually there are more than one sessions played and coach Ravi Shastri had proposed for at least one session. Kohli felt the board should not rush into playing Day-Night Tests just yet until proper trial is given to the players.

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