India coach Gautam Gambhir praises ICC's pink ball trial for day Test matches

India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Friday backed the ICC's decision to allow the use of pink balls in day Tests, calling it a practical way to push matches towards a result when bad light threatens to take overs out of the game. Speaking on the eve of the one-off Test against Afghanistan, Gambhir said he was firmly in favour of any measure that helped preserve the possibility of a decisive finish.

The ICC approved the trial at its board meeting, with the change permitted only if both teams agree to it in advance and solely "to maximise play in case of anticipated bad light". The rule will come into effect from October 1. It is understood that such matches will begin with the traditional red ball before switching to the pink ball under floodlights if light conditions deteriorate and overs would otherwise be lost.

"I love that. The reason is because I always believe that if there's an opportunity to get a result, you should always have that opportunity," Gambhir said.

His support is not hard to place in the context of India's upcoming schedule. The team is due to host the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in February-March, with the third Test in Guwahati and the final one in Ranchi - both venues



in eastern India, where daylight fades early and overs can be lost quickly to poor light.

Gambhir framed the issue through the lens of the World Test Championship, where weather and light can undermine months of hard work.

"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 and qualify. Because of bad light it's not happening. I am all for it if there is an opportunity to get the result and both the teams agree to it," he said.

He acknowledged that switching from a red ball to a pink ball during a match could require a significant adjustment from players, but argued that the alternative could be far more damaging.

"I know it could be a little uncertain or difficult for the players playing the Test match, but imagine working hard for two years and it's the last Test match before the World Test Championship final," Gambhir said.

"If it gets worse, if you don't play for five days because of bad luck, how uncertain could that 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.