On Thursday, December 17, India and Australia will square off in a Day and Night Test match for the very first time. It will in fact be only the second time that India will be involved in a Day and Night Test match, after playing their first Test with a pink ball in 2019 against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens.
India experimented with Day & Night long form cricket as early as 1997. In that year the Ranji Trophy final between Mumbai and Delhi was played under lights in Gwalior with a white ball. India however took to Day and Night Test cricket very late. They declined Australia’s offer to play a Day and Night Test in Adelaide on their 2018-19 tour. They were the ninth Test playing nation to play a Test with the pink ball under lights, when they hosted Bangladesh at the Eden Garden last year. India won that match by an innings and 46 runs in three days.