India to Play Their First Day/Night Test Against New Zealand This Year: Anurag Thakur

In order to raise the dwindling number of spectators in the stadium during Test matches, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to host its first-ever Day/Night cricket Test with pink ball when New Zealand tour India later this year.

"We have decided that we will play one Day/Night Test match with pink ball against New Zealand later this year. Before that Duleep Trophy will act as a dress rehearsal for the Day/Night Test match," BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur told mediapersons on Thursday.

Thakur said that the main objective of the Duleep Trophy will be to check how the pink 'kookaburra' behaves under the light in sub-continental conditions.

"While we have not zeroed in on the venue, there are lots of factors that need to be taken into account. Things like dew factor, how the spinners bowl with the pink kookaburra on Indian pitches. These things we will get an idea during the Duleep Trophy," said Thakur.

It is expected that all leading Indian players will play in that Duleep game in order to get an idea and also give a feedback to the board before they go ahead with the Test match.

While Test matches in India are played with 'SG Test' balls, Thakur said that in this match, it will be a 'Pink kookaburra' that will be used.

"We may ask 'SG' to manufacture pink balls later but that has to be of the quality of pink balls that 'kookaburra' produces," said Thakur.