IND vs SL Pink Ball Test: India vs Sri Lanka – After wrapping up a dominating an innings and 222-run win in the first Test within three days, Rohit Sharma & Co decided to stay back in Mohali. After a rest day on Monday, the full team including Virat Kohli had a full-fledged training session with the SG pink ball in Mohali. Follow IND vs SL Pink Ball Test Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
On Tuesday, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill and others had a full practice session under the watchful eyes of Rahul Dravid and batting coach Vikram Rathour.
IND vs SL Pink Ball Test: Virat Kohli & Co hit nets in Mohali for full-fledged Pink-Ball practice ahead of Bengaluru Test – Check pics
IND vs SL Pink Ball Test: Virat Kohli & Co hit nets in Mohali for full-fledged Pink-Ball practice ahead of Bengaluru Test – Check pics
India in Pink Ball Tests:
- India vs Bangladesh – Kolkata, 2019: India won by an innings and 46 runs
- Australia vs India – Adelaide, 2020: Australia won by 8 wickets
- India vs England – Ahmedabad, 2021: India won by 10 wickets
IND vs SL Pink Ball Test: Virat Kohli & Co stay back in Mohali for full-fledged Pink-Ball practice ahead of Bengaluru Test – Check pics
Despite India’s facile victory in the first Test, Rohit Sharma will have a selection headache with Axar Patel also making a comeback.
In the two Pink Ball Tests in India, India have had emphatic wins. However, the bowling combinations in both matches tell a different story. If Indian pacers managed 19 wickets against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens in 2019, in Ahmedabad against England, pacers bagged 28 wickets out of 30. Hence, the confusion seems obvious on who should India go with Axar Patel or Mohammed Siraj.
IND vs SL Pink Ball Test: Virat Kohli & Co hit nets in Mohali for full-fledged Pink-Ball practice ahead of Bengaluru Test – Check pics
Getting Pink Ball Ready 😀😎#TeamIndia | #INDvSL | @Paytm pic.twitter.com/94O8DDzs9x
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 9, 2022
Bengaluru pitch: This will be the first Pink Ball Test in Bengaluru with the pink SG ball working in a different manner than the red cherry. As Bengaluru pitches have historically favoured batsmen on the first three days and then spinners in the last two, it could continue with the tradition. But the hard lacquer on the pink SG ball could be the differentiator.
IND vs SL Pink Ball Test: Virat Kohli & Co hit nets in Mohali for full-fledged Pink-Ball practice ahead of Bengaluru Test – Check pics
Unlike the Ahmedabad pitch, the surface in Bengaluru is made of red soil and could enable fast bowlers in the first two days before the cracks open up. With a temperature of around 30 degrees, the cracks could open up sooner. However, the other factor will be the breeze in the afternoon. As the match will be a day-night affair and Bengaluru have evenings with a lot of breeze, it could help the seamers swing the ball.
IND vs SL Pink Ball Test: Virat Kohli & Co hit nets in Mohali for full-fledged Pink-Ball practice ahead of Bengaluru Test – Check pics
Axar Patel or Mohd Siraj? – Axar Patel use the red soil in Ahmedabad to his full advantage with deliveries that skid on the surface. In Bengaluru, that could be different. Mohd Siraj may have an advantage as he has played a lot of matches at M Chinnaswamy Stadium for his IPL side Royal Challengers Bangalore. He understands the evening condition.
India’s squad for the 2nd Test: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Priyank Panchal, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubhman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), KS Bharat, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, R. Ashwin, Saurabh Kumar, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Mohd. Shami, Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Axar Patel
IND vs SL Pink Ball Test: Virat Kohli & Co hit nets in Mohali for full-fledged Pink-Ball practice ahead of Bengaluru Test – Check pics
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