India vs England 2021: Virat Kohli foresees nuances with the pink ball, wishes batsmen to adjust to the ‘reversal of roles’ in the upcoming Day-Night Test match
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Indian skipper Virat Kohli recollected his prior day-night pink ball match experiences as they might come handy for Team India during the third Test in Ahmedabad. Kohli is cautious of the situation that they might bump into during the third Test against England, which will commence on Wednesday.
Kohli, who has scored 214 runs in the day-night Test matches-the most by any Indian batsman, can anticipate the challenges that the batsmen might have to confront in the upcoming match.
“The pink ball tends to swing a lot more than the normal red ball that we play with. We have experienced that in the one match we played against Bangladesh in 2019. It’s much more challenging to play with the new ball in day-night Test regardless of what pitch you are playing on,” said Kohli during the virtual press conference on the eve of the third Test.
Starting one, one, and half-hour under the lights is very challenging, says Kohli
Kohli reiterated the struggles that flower up under the lights during the day-night Test match. In addition to the spin, he is wary of the fast bowlers, who often get assistance due to the due that later covers the pitch.
“If you are starting your innings in the evening under lights then that one, one, and half-hour is very challenging. Yes, the spin will come into play for sure but I don’t think the new ball and fast bowlers can be ignored. The pink ball does bring them into the game till the ball is nice and shiny, something we are very well aware of and preparing accordingly,” he added.
“Well last time we experienced that the first session is probably the nicest to bat when the sun is out and the ball doesn’t do as much but when it starts to get dark especially during that twilight period it gets very tricky the lights changes and it becomes too difficult to sight the ball and then under lights, it becomes like playing the first session in the morning in a normal Test match as the ball does tend to swing,” Kohli explained.
The batsman has the role to adjust quickly, feels Kohli
The 32-year-old asserted that even if the batsmen seemed to have understood the pitch during the day, they still have to watchful in the evening because of the changing pitch dynamics under the lights.
“I think it’s a reversal of roles and something you need to adjust quite quickly as the batsmen. Even though you might be set in the afternoon, you have to take guard again and start from scratch in the evening and probably have to bit more disciplined,” he further said.
“So these are the major differences. Similarly, with the bowlers, the plan is bowl a nice consistent line and length, and in the evening if the situation allows we can attack,” he added.
With England’s win in the first Test and India clinching the win in the second clash, the Test series between the two sides stands levelled 1-1. The third and fourth Test will take place at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad.
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Sahil Sethi
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