“I hope it can be another option as well” - When Virat Kohli voiced his support before first-ever pink-ball Test
Back in 2015, Virat Kohli expressed his support for playing with the pink ball in day-night Tests. Kohli's comments came ahead of the first-ever day-night Test between Australia and New Zealand, which took place from November 27 to December 1, 2015 in Adelaide.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) opted to introduce day/night Tests to increase crowd attendance and arrest the declining interest in the format among cricket-watching audiences.
Speaking on the eve of India's third Test against South Africa in Nagpur, Kohli lauded Australia and New Zealand for promoting the idea put forth by the ICC. The 35-year-old hoped that all teams will agree to play with a pink ball, if it's for the betterment of Test cricket. He said (via ESPNcricinfo):
"It is a landmark Test. It is a big experiment. It is a big step towards changing something in Test cricket. I hope it works. I hope it can be another option as well.
"I'm glad two teams have actually agreed to play an official Test like that as an experiment. Credit to Australia and New Zealand, both, that they have decided to do this. Hopefully it will be better for the game. It will be a step which we all might remember a few years down the line. Let's hope so."
The first day-night Test saw Australia win by three wickets against New Zealand. Josh Hazlewood earned the Player of the Match award for picking up nine wickets.
Virat Kohli scored a hundred in India's first day-night Test against Bangladesh
On November 22, 2019, the Virat Kohli-led Indian team played their first-ever pink-ball Test against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Ishant Sharma picked up a fifer, as the visitors were bundled out for just 106. Then, Kohli slammed 136 off 194, as India went on to declare on 347/9.
Thereafter, Umesh Yadav's five-wicket haul helped India bowl out Bangladesh for 195 and win by an innings and 46 runs.
So far, India have been a part of four day-night Tests, while winning three of them. They will play their next pink-ball Test against Australia in December 2024 in Adelaide. Interestingly, the Aussies beat India by eight wickets at the same venue in December 2020.