India vs Bangladesh: Day-night Test in Kolkata to start at 1 pm and end at 8 pm to counter dew

In an attempt to make sure dew does not play a decisive role in the historic day-night Test between India and Bangladesh, the BCCI has agreed to Cricket Association of Bengal’s (CAB) proposal of a new timing. Consequently, the game will start at 1 PM IST and end the day’s play by 8 PM at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

The Test will kickstart India and Bangladesh’s journey in day-night Tests. While the first Test under lights was played way back in 2015, both these countries seemed reluctant to try their hands at it. Both the teams had their reservations over how the pink ball would behave and how the conditions will affect the game.

But the neighbours have finally decided to get a taste of day-night Test. And to make sure that dew does not spoil the party, the organisers are taking all possible measures. A BCCI official confirmed that sessions have been re-planned keeping in mind the need to call stumps by 8 in the evening. The ball is expected to get really wet if play carried on post 8 PM in Kolkata in late November.

“Keeping in mind the dew factor, the BCCI approved CAB’s request to change the playing hours in the second Test. While play will start at 1 p.m., the first session will end at 3 p.m. The second session will start from 3:40 p.m. and continue till 5:40 p.m. The final session will be played from 6 p.m. till 8 PM,” the BCCI official was quoted as saying by The Quint.

Earlier, Eden curator Sujan Mukherjee had said that starting early would help in fighting the dew factor. He had also said that the ground staff did have arrangements to tackle with the problem.

“The dew factor comes into play mostly after 8-8:30 p.m. as we have seen in white-ball game this time of the year at Eden. Therefore, I don’t think dew will be a problem,” Sujan had said before adding: “We also have arrangements to tackle dew issues like treatment sprays and all that.”

“My preparation is the same like I do for any day game. I will make the pitch as sporting as possible. We have had good pitches at Eden in the past and it would be no different. It doesn’t change since it’s a Day-Night affair,” he added.

Tickets in demand for the Eden Gardens Test

Meanwhile, the tickets for the monumental game is very much in demand as the fans look desperate to witness the historic moment at the iconic stadium. The CAB recently took to Twitter to announce that over 50,000 spectators will witness the first three days of the match. The two-match series is getting underway on Thursday (November 14) in Indore.

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