IND vs BAN | Fielding session with pink ball was biggest challenge, reveals Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has stated that fielding seems to be a challenging task with the pink ball as it seemed heavier while throwing from the deep and while taking slip catches in the practice session. The Indian skipper has also added that the Test will be a landmark occasion in Indian cricket.
As India prepare themselves for the pink challenge at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, all the spotlight has been on how the ball would behave under lights. Everyone seems to have an opinion on that but the man who matters, Kohli shared his observation. Maybe due to its extra lacquer or use of pink coating on the leather the pink ball does seem heavier, or so does Kohli feel.
"The fielding session with the pink ball was the biggest challenge. People will be surprised how difficult fielding can be with the pink ball. The ball definitely felt heavier. I'm sure there won't be any difference in weight but somehow it felt heavier. While taking slip catches the ball really hit the hands hard. Even while throwing from the boundary, the fielders felt they needed to put extra effort," Kohli said in the pre-game press conference, reported NDTV.
Due to Eden's proximity to the Bay of Bengal and River Ganges, the impact of dew is heavier and Kolkata fears the worst under lights. To tackle the scenario, the curator has taken the precaution of roping the ground in every drinks break but Kohli believes it would still be intact for the entire duration of the game.
“I think in India, we have one big factor which is dew, which is going to be discussed with match referee as we go along with playing the game. You can’t really predict these things… you never know at what stage the dew is going to arrive. We just have to play it as it comes,” said the 32-year-old.
There have been a lot of cultural programmes arranged for the pink balls and a lot of stalwarts from both the countries will be felicitated on the occasion. The entire city has gone pink in order to celebrate the first pink ball Test in India, and Kohli called it a "landmark occasion" in Indian cricket history.
"The pink-ball Test is a challenge for us. It is very exciting for us as the energy will be very high. It is a landmark occasion. I can't speak for another team or board. But our conversations with the BCCI over the last few years has been to improve our Test game," Kohli added.
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