The Duleep Trophy is set to take place with two new features added to the game for the first time in India’s first-class cricket. The matches will be played with the pink ball and under lights at the Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex, Greater Noida between India ‘Red’ and India ‘Green’ from August 23 to 26, 2016.
Preparing for the match ahead, both teams practiced with the pink ball in the sweltering heat of northern India. With the new aspects adding to the excitement of cricket it is likely to be a keenly followed tournament. Ahead of the first game, India ‘Red’ captain Yuvraj Singh and coach Narendra Hirwani along with India ‘Green’ captain Suresh Raina and coach WV Raman discussed the two new additions to the game while addressing the media.
Speaking about the forthcoming game and the yet unexplored factors, Yuvraj said, “I think it is pretty exciting and something to look forward to. The New Zealand - Australia Test match (with the pink ball) I saw was pretty exciting. The ball was swinging a bit much. It will be challenging if it swings a lot (while) playing under lights. I am just looking forward for the excitement.”
Agreeing with his opposite number Raina said, “It will be a great contest. For the first time we will be playing for 90 overs in a day/night match. We look forward to enjoying the next four days.”
“The Duleep Trophy has not been played with the pink ball before and it’s a good challenge. All the boys are keen (to perform) and this is a good platform ahead of the season,” he added while talking about the tournament and the opportunities it provides for players ahead of a long home season ahead.
Speaking about the ground and the match ahead, Raina, who has played at the venue before elaborated, “I have played a 9 am Ranji Trophy match here. The facilities here are very good. Let’s see how it feels under lights here. When we practice we will get an idea of how things are here.”
“Now there will be dew also (in the day/night match). That was a red ball and day game now its pink ball and under the lights. The weather is changing right now – it’s been raining and there has been heat as well, so accordingly will shine the ball and plan. We will know how much moisture is there in the wicket in a couple of days (and) we will know how the wicket is complimenting the ball and then we can decide how to plan the batting,” he explained while pointing out the different aspects that could come into play in the forthcoming game.
“The morning session is important (in a match); now you are starting the game in the afternoon. It’s like (when) you are playing with the white ball in the afternoon; and now it’s a pink ball. We have to see how the wicket is, the weather will be like. I think as the evening progresses the ball will reverse a bit and swing also. And this being an open ground it will be a challenge for the batsman how he bats. We will have to see,” Raina observed.
Discussing the pink ball further, WV Raman said, “The biggest challenge would be during winter when the ball gets wet, due to dew. Gripping it would be an issue. Unlike other countries cricket winter sport in India,” while mentioning that the new introduction is going to create a lot of interest and with the pink ball I think.
Asked about the impact it could have on spinners, Hirwani said that it was too early to say anything and he would watch the game before making remarks.
“It is a first opportunity (to play with the pink ball and) we are all very excited. We can only say (anything) once we have played one or two games what is the future with the pink ball. We actually don’t know,” Yuvraj Singh replied when asked about the future of the pink ball.
Speaking about the new dimensions added to the game and new venue for first-class matches, Yuvraj observed, “It is good that cricket is spreading to different areas of the country. People will come and watch and be excited about it. As I said, I am pretty excited about the pink ball. It is something I am looking forward to and obviously under the lights it will be more exciting. Because I have played a lot of day/night cricket so for me it’s always been exciting to play under lights.”
“When T20 format came in everyone started liking it. Now the pink ball is there (another new thing for cricket). If people will like to watch pink ball for six hours or not I can’t say, but I just feel that the more exciting things come (into the sport) cricket will become more exciting. But the culture, the history of Test cricket shouldn’t get spoilt. The history - that’s how cricket evolved, five-day cricket; as long as that is not getting disturbed every format for me is exciting,” said the India ‘Red’ captain while discussing the newer aspects being brought into the game.
