"If there's an opportunity to get a result...": Gambhir backs red-ball-pink-ball switch
New Chandigarh, June 5
Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir extended his support to the International Cricket Council idea of switching from a red ball to a pink ball before the start of the Afghanistan Test that is likely to be affected by bad light.
Gambhir argued that teams should not lose crucial opportunities because of external factors like bad light.
He also believes it would be unfair if poor light prevented the match from continuing and denied them a chance to secure qualification.
Gambhir was speaking to the reporters on the eve of India's one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh.
"I love that because I've always believed that if there's an opportunity to get a result, you should always have that opportunity. Imagine if you are playing the last Test match before the World Test Championship final and you have the chance to win that Test match to qualify, but because of bad light, it's not happening. So I'm all for it," Gambhir said on Friday.
"If there's an opportunity to get the result, if both teams agree to it... I know it could be a little unfair and difficult for the players, but imagine working hard for two years and the last Test match before the World Test Championship final, if you don't play five days because of bad light, how unfair that could be. So I think it's a proactive move, it's a positive move, and, hopefully, the teams will start taking it in a positive way," he added.
In their most recent Test series, a home contest against South Africa, India suffered a 2-0 whitewash. They currently sit sixth in the World Test Championship standings, having earned 48.15% of the available points from nine matches.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Makes sense for the WTC context, but what about the players? Suddenly switching from red to pink ball mid-match will be tough for batting and bowling adjustments. And the pink ball behaves differently under lights. Hope the ICC thinks it through properly before making it a rule.
Finally someone talking sense! As a fan who's sat through entire days of Test cricket watching covers being brought on and off for bad light, this is a no-brainer. Pink ball Tests are exciting anyway. Gambhir bhai is thinking like a true competitor, not like those defensive captains we've had in the past.
It's a clever idea in theory, but the logistics worry me. Seamers will need different grips, spinners might struggle with visibility, and the pink ball tends to swing more early on. Could create an uneven contest if introduced mid-match. Maybe keep it as an option for the last session if conditions worsen.
Gambhir's point about the WTC qualification is valid. Imagine Kohli's team in 2021 losing a chance to reach the final because of rain or bad light after dominating for two years. But the switch needs clear rules—maybe only if at least 60% of the match is done, or both captains agree unanimously. Otherwise, it's too disruptive.
I love how Gambhir is already thinking like a coach who wants to win. This guy doesn't just talk, he has a vision. Our team needs that aggression. 💪 But honestly, the ICC should have sorted this long ago. How many classic matches have we lost to bad light? Just look at
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