India vs Bangladesh: Eden Gardens to host India’s first day-night Test

The iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata will play host to India’s first-ever day-night Test next month. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Tuesday (October 29) has accepted the proposal of BCCI President Sourav Ganguly and provided their confirmation to play the second Test of the two-match series under lights using the pink ball. The Test is scheduled to be held in Kolkata from November 22-26.

This latest development ends days of speculation after the newly elected BCCI chief first proposed the idea to his counterpart in the BCB. Initially the Bangladesh think-tank was not convinced with the concept due to lack of practice with the pink ball. However, after multiple meetings, the authorities in the Bangladesh board managed to convince its players.

“It’s a good development. Test cricket needs this push. I and my team were bent on it and thanks to Virat [Kohli] also, he agreed,” Ganguly said while reacting to this decision of BCB. He, in fact, wants the Eden Gardens’ day-night Test to be an “annual affair” in BCCI’s calendar.

Meanwhile, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has plans to invite India’s legendary Olympians like Abhinav Bindra, M C Mary Kom and P V Sindhu and felicitate them for their contribution to the country’s Olympic movement during the match. Furthermore, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is also expected to attend this historic match.

It will be the first occasion when both India and Bangladesh will play Test cricket under artificial lights. The inaugural pink-ball Test was played between Australia and New Zealand Australia in Adelaide from Nov 27, 2015.