Eden Gardens to host India's first pink ball day-night match

The iconic cricket ground in India, the Eden Gardens at Kolkata, will host India’s first-ever pink ball cricket match, which will be the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) Super League final from June 17 to 20. The Super League is played among 8 top teams in local cricket to streamline Ranji Trophy team selection for Bengal.

The match will be played under lights with the pink kookaburra ball and will be telecasted all across India by Star Sports. This day-night final was the idea of the CAB president Sourav Ganguly, as he believes that the pink ball cricket is the “way forward” to increase the popularity of the longer version of the game.

“Pink ball cricket indeed is the way forward. Test cricket’s popularity has been steadily declining and we must do something to arrest the slide. The pink ball Test in Australia last year received an overwhelmingly positive response (from the fans) and we must embrace the change. The Super League final under lights is an experiment with an eye to hosting day/night Tests in the near future. I think it would be a very good experience,” Ganguly told The Indian Express.

“We (CAB) are not claiming any TV rights (from the broadcaster) for the event. Star Sports will bear the whole expense of the final. They will do their promos on TV. Pink Kookaburras will be used and we have already procured the shipment,” he added.

Also Read: Pink ball to be tested in Duleep Trophy by top cricketers: Anurag Thakur

The CAB secretary Abhishek Dalmiya said that certain conditions are required to ensure a successful hosting of the pink-ball Test match and he had spoken to Kookaburra’s subcontinent head and had taken his advice. “Certain conditions are required for the pink ball to hold up for a substantial period. We have spoken to Kookaburra’s subcontinent head and will follow the advice.”

Earlier, BCCI president Anurag Thakur confirmed that the upcoming Duleep Trophy would be used as a dress rehearsal for the pink-ball Test matches scheduled to be played later this year.