Pink Ball Test: India to take on England in Ahmedabad

After getting decimated in the first Test, India came back strong in the second Test to square the series 1-1.

This will also be the second Pink Ball Test in the country as the first such day-night match was played against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2019.

India captain Virat Kohli on Tuesday said that both spinners and fast bowlers will be in play in the day-night third Test at the revamped Motera Cricket Stadium here, even though the conditions underfoot are expected to assist spin bowling.

Addressing the pre-match press conference, Kohli said he expects the pacers to be in the game till the ball is 'nice and shiny'.

"The pink ball does tend to swing a lot more than the normal red ball that we play with. We experienced that in the one match that we played in 2019 against Bangladesh. It is much more challenging to play the new pink ball regardless of the pitch you are playing on," Kohli said, on the eve of the Ahmedabad Test.

"Especially in the evening, say, as a batting team, you are starting your innings in the evening under lights, then that one-and-a-half hours is very challenging."

"Yes, spin will come in for sure, but I don't think the new ball and the fast bowlers can be ignored. The pink ball does bring them into the game till the ball is nice and shiny. Something we are very well aware of, and we are preparing accordingly," he added.

India have played only two Pink Ball Tests so far, winning at home against Bangladesh in 2019 and losing badly against Australia in Adelaide.

Indian cricket board president Sourav Ganguly, who is recovering from his ill health, tweeted saying he would miss being physically present at the stadium.

"Will miss being at the stadium today ..what an effort it must have been to create this ..pink test was our dream and it's going be the 2nd one in india.hope to see full stands like last time. Under the leadership of Honble Prime minister @narendramodi Amit Shah @AmitShah.." Ganguly tweeted.