Rajkot or Hyderabad likely to host the first day-night Test in India

A few days ago, reports suggested that the BCCI (board of control for cricket in India), impressed with the success of day-night Tests, was planning to host India’s first ever day-night Test when the West Indies visit in October. Reports now suggest that the board seems firm on its India, and have kept Rajkot and Hyderabad as the two options for the venue of the historic game.

The Windies will be in India for a full-fledged tour, but the day-night Test is subject still to approval from the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA). The CoA’s head Vinod Rai was unhappy with the BCCI initiating a day-night Test without asking the COA for permission.

“If the Committee of Administrators (CoA) gives its approval, one of the two centers will host the Test under floodlights,” a BCCI source told PTI.

India’s upcoming tours

The Indian cricket team has a busy schedule ahead of them after the Indian Premier League ends. India will play against Afghanistan in a one-off Test from June 14 in Bengaluru, after which there’s an Asia Cup from September 18. Once that ends, Windies will tour India for five ODIs and three T20Is, and hopefully a day-night Test as well. Mumbai, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram, Indore, and Guwahati will be the five cities for the ODI series.

The three T20s will be held in Kolkata, Chennai and Kanpur/Lucknow. After the series against West Indies, India will travel to Australia for a two-month long tour. That will be followed by a tour to New Zealand to play five ODIs and two T20Is.

Preparation for the World Cup

While the introduction of day-night Tests might help revive Test cricket, as of now India will be looking forward to more of ODI cricket in the build-up to the ICC ODI World Cup to be held in England and Wales next year. With the middle order still unsettled, they are likely to make several experiments in the upcoming ODI series. The return of Suresh Raina, however, is a huge boost for Men in Blue.