INDORE: The pink ball swings more than the red one but how it would behave after getting old, especially when dew will be a factor, is keeping India skipper Virat Kohli intrigued ahead of team's historic day-night Test against Bangladesh.

The pink ball Test is still a few days away but Kohli, on the eve of the series-opener, was busy answering questions related to the second Test starting November 22.

"I think it's a new way to bring excitement to Test cricket. The pink ball I played yesterday, I felt it swings a lot more as compared to the red ball because there's extra lacquer (quote of paint) on the ball which doesn't go away too fast. And the seam holds upright quite a bit," the skipper's initial observation seemed in sync with what his deputy Ajinkya Rahane had assessed.

Kohli said they are yet to figure out how the old ball will behave during November evenings in Kolkata.

"If the pitch has extra help for the bowlers, then they will be in the game, especially fast bowlers throughout the course of the Test match. I don't know how the old ball behaves because with the dew and the lacquer going off, it will be interesting to see how much the old ball does," the skipper said.




However he made it clear that for a pink ball to be effective, it is important to have lively tracks.

"With the pink ball having enough life in the pitch will be very important factor."

The Indian team did not practice with the pink ball under lights but did take a few throw-downs on Tuesday to adjust to the colour of the new ball.

"I hadn't played with the pink ball before. I was given an opportunity to try and I wanted to. So that was my mind-set behind playing with the pink ball. You require extra concentration to pick the pink ball suddenly when you're playing with the red ball.

"It was to work on the reflexes a little bit as well. Because when you play with the red ball in the net and you arrive at the pink ball, it gets very difficult to pick, which can be the case in the game as well. To get into that zone was the reason behind it," he explained.




The skipper also maintained that while the hype about the day-night Test is understandable, the focus of his team is firmly on the first game. A testimony to that was no 'pink ball' training on the eve of the match.

"In Test cricket, I don't think you can afford to take focus away. Not even one session, not even one over. With the red ball you need to be absolutely precise in your focus, every game that you play, every ball that you play, every situation that you are in. Our prime focus is tomorrow's Test match.

"We are looking forward to that first and then we will focus on the pink ball later," he made it clear.




When the question of having permanent Test venues popped up once again, Kohli said he prefers having a structure for traditional format.

You don't want centres like Indore to host Test matches, a scribe asked pointedly.

"I said that because if you look at the ratio, a stadium like Indore attracted a decent crowd but a lot of others didn't. And it can't be that one stadium gets games and the others don't.

"Indore is the kind of place where if you play a T20, you won't find a single empty seat. And in one-dayers it won't be empty at all. It's not about taking away matches from them. Just a vision about how we can get together and raise Test cricket," he said.

On the opposition, Kohli termed Mustafizur Rahman as the man to watch out for.

"He is a very good bowler so he's going be a threat, a key player for Bangladesh. He's an experienced bowler. He knows the Indian batsmen as well, having played the IPL. So, it's a challenge but we must look forward to those challenges," Kohli said.

INDORE: The last time Ajinkya Rahane played an ODI for India was in February, 2018 in South Africa. Since then, India's Test deputy has not been able to find a place in the Indian XI in limited-overs cricket.

However, Rahane, who is an integral part of the Test team, believes he can make it to the Indian ODI team if he keeps on piling runs in red-ball cricket.

"I just need to play well in the Test matches, keep scoring runs and I am confident that I will be back in the ODI side," Rahane told reporters on Tuesday ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh beginning on Thursday.

"It is all about self-belief and being confident. Staying in the present will help me, if I contribute to the side's cause in Tests, I am sure I will be back in the ODI squad," he added.

The 31-year-old has represented India in 90 ODIs in which he has amassed 2,962 runs at 35.26. During the 87 ODI innings he got a chance to bat, Rahane scored three centuries and 24 half-centuries.

Team India, currently ranked No. 1 in Tests, would be brimming with confidence following their historic 3-0 victory over South Africa and would enter the two-Test series against Bangla Tigers as overwhelming favourites.




However, Rahane insists the hosts will not take Bangladesh lightly and focus on working on their own strengths.

"Bangladesh is a very good team. They play as a unit. We focus on our strengths rather than thinking about opposition. With the Test championship, every match is important," said Rahane.

"We are focussing on the Indore Test right now. I thought we played really well against South Africa, but as a side, we must stay in the present and we do not take any opponent lightly," he added.

The two teams will also feature in their first Day/Night Test at the Eden Gardens slated to begin from November 22.

The team management has already made a request to the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) to organise for training under lights for Virat Kohli and boys as they prepare for their maiden pink-ball affair.

Speaking to BCCI.tv, Rahane had already spoken about the need to train well to adapt to the challenges that come with playing with the pink ball.

"I am very excited personally. It is a new challenge. I don't know how it will turn out but we will get an idea when we have a couple of practice sessions. Only then we will get an idea of how much the pink ball swings and how it works session wise," he pointed.

"Fans perspective wise also it will be interesting. I think as a batsman lateral movement will be there and it will be best if you play late, that is my personal idea. Adapting shouldn't be a problem," he added.

JAIPUR: Twenty balls, seven runs, six wickets. A day after Deepak Chahar's incredible feat of registering the best-ever bowling figures in T20 Internationals, the cricketing world woke up to the immense potential of the 27-year-old 'Powerplay' bowler, who on Sunday redefined his utility by spearheading an inexperienced India attack to a series win.

Chahar's exploits in the third T20 International against Bangladesh, however, may not have come to pass if 11 years ago his father, Lokendra Singh Chahar, had heeded the advice of Greg Chappell, a former coach of the same national team the seam bowler now proudly represents.


At a time when Chahar was still finding his way in age-group cricket, he was asked to look for a different occupation by Chappell, the then-director of the Rajasthan Cricket Academy. A pep talk by his father, who also happened to be his coach, flushed the sense of dejection out of the 18-year-old Deepak.

Cut to Sunday in Nagpur and it was a night to remember for the 27-year-old Chahar as he broke numerous records on his way to creating a sensation - Deepak also became the first Indian to claim a hat-trick in T20Is. Known primarily as a penetrative T20 new-ball 'swing' bowler because of his exploits with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL, Chahar has also been required to bowl at the 'death' by captain Rohit Sharma because of the present composition of India's attack. The right-arm seamer, who represents Rajasthan in domestic cricket, pulled off the challenge with aplomb to win the man-of-the-series award.


The confidence and maturity Chahar is now showing is a direct result of the immense effort the bowler from Agra has put in over the years, first under his father and then former India captain MS Dhoni, his captain at CSK. The 27-year-old announced his presence in first-class cricket in loud fashion, taking eight wickets for 10 runs on Ranji Trophy debut as Hyderabad were all out for 21 at the SMS Stadium in 2010. A spate of untimely illnesses, however, delayed Chahar's progress. "Once it was jaundice, then a thumb injury. These issues cropped up when the domestic season was about to begin," his father Lokendra told TOI from Agra.

Chahar picked up a cricket ball for the first time at age seven. By 12, was eyeing a career as a cricketer. His father, an assistant air traffic controller with the Indian Air Force, was posted at Suratgarh border in Rajasthan when Deepak started playing age-group cricket while studying in Kendriya Vidyalaya.


After retiring from his job in 2006, Lokendra settled down in Agra and started a cricket academy at the GD Goenka School. Deepak played for Hanumangarh DCA, under the Rajasthan Cricket Association, where he also trained under Navendu Tyagi, who was then secretary of the club.

Lokendra made optimum use of the extra time after his retirement to help Deepak hone his skills. "Today, he has every delivery in his repertoire and he can bowl in any situation. Be it a bouncer, a slow bouncer, yorker, in-swingers, out-swingers, leg cutter, knuckle bowl... you ask and it's there. He has also developed the ability to read the mindset of batsmen. The presence of mind required to bowl at the death and in high-pressure situations has come from playing for CSK," Lokendra said. "Chappell lacked the eye to spot talent so he dismissed Deepak, but Dhoni had that ability and hence my child is flourishing."

MELBOURNE: No one is more committed to Indian cricket than Mahendra Singh Dhoni and batting at number five is the ideal spot for him, said Virat Kohli in stout defence of the former captain.

Dhoni faced criticism for slow batting in the ODI series-opener in Sydney before redeeming his pride and reputation with match-winning contributions in the Adelaide and Melbourne ODIs.

READ ALSO: I'm ready to bat at any position, says MS Dhoni

Acknowledging Dhoni's contribution in the historic series-triumph in Australia, Kohli defended the former captain saying he should be allowed breathing space.

READ ALSO: Dhoni powers India to first-ever bilateral ODI series win in Australia

"I think firstly as a team we are very happy for Dhoni that he is amongst the runs, because it is very important to get runs under your belt to get that rhythm and confidence back. Especially when you have not been playing so much international cricket," said the India captain at the post-match press conference.

"Many things happen outside. People say a lot of things but as an individual we know that there is no one more committed to Indian cricket than Dhoni and people should let him have his space because he has contributed so much for the nation.

"They should let him figure out things on his own and what he needs to do. He is one of the most intelligent cricketers and he is not someone who is not aware about what needs to be done. As a team we are totally in sync with what he is doing and we are all very happy for him," said Kohli.

The skipper also reckons that the just-concluded Australia series has proved that number five is the most logical spot for Dhoni.

"Dhoni batted at number four in 2016 for a while. But after that he has been pretty happy playing at five and six for the team. We felt that number five was the ideal position for him. And if you saw him bat at Adelaide as well he was pretty comfortable in that position because that allows him to do a bit of both - get some game time as well as finish games off, attacking as and when required," Kohli said.

Dhoni played a crucial role in India winning the decisive third ODI with his unbeaten 87-run knock on Friday and at Adelaide too his unbeaten half-century had scripted India's win.

"He was more himself from that game (Adelaide) on, and he built onto this knock today. We are pretty happy with the batting combination that we had in Adelaide. When someone like Hardik Pandya is not there you have to balance somehow. So a lot of things vary in that regard. But we as a team, and myself as captain, we feel that Dhoni at five is the most logical. It is the ideal place for him and the team as well," Kohli said.

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OVERS 1.2: Rohit is hit on the back pad, Aussies appeal, umpire turns it down, Aussies take a review, replays show the ball was hitting the top of the bails, so the umpire's call stays

Peter Siddle bowls the second over

Jhye Richardson bowls the first over for Australia, Rohit Sharma on strike

OVERS 48.4: OUT! Stanlake edges a Shami delivery onto his stumps. AUSTRALIA 230 ALL OUT IN 48.4 OVERS

End of Chahal's spell: 10-0-42-6. There are the joint-best bowling figures by an Indian at the MCG in an ODI

OVERS 47.4: OUT! Sixth wicket for Chahal as he has Zampa (8) caught by Shankar at long-on! Australia 229/9

That's a 5-wkt haul for @yuzi_chahal 👏👏 #AUSvIND https://t.co/GReuwxIjIu

— BCCI (@BCCI) 1547791603000

OVERS 45.6: OUT! Fifth wicket for Chahal as he traps Handscomb (58) plumb in front. Australia 219/8

OVERS 43.3: OUT! Chahal has Richardson (16) caught by Jadhav at short mid-wicket. Australia 206/7

OVERS 42.5: FOUR! 200 up for Australia as Richardson pulls a Shami delivery to the square leg fence

OVERS 41.5: Fifty for Handscomb off 57 balls as he on drives a Chahal delivery for a single

Australia 190/6, ten more overs to go

OVERS 39.3: FOUR! Handscomb chips a Shankar delivery to the mid-wicket fence for his second boundary

OVERS 34.5: OUT! The bouncer works for Shami, Maxwell (26) goes for the pull again, but edges to fine leg, Bhuvneshwar comes running in and takes a brilliant catch diving forward. Australia 161/6

OVERS 34.4: FOUR! Shami bangs it in, Maxwell goes for the hook but edges it well over Dhoni and it races to the fence

Shami replaces Jadeja in the attack

OVERS 33.6: FOUR! 150 up for Australia as Maxwell hits through the covers for his fourth boundary

OVERS 33.2: FOUR! Maxwell pulls a full toss from Chahal to the mid-wicket fence

OVERS 32.3: FOUR! Now Jadeja bowls short and Maxwell pulls to the mid-wicket fence again

OVERS 31.6: FOUR! Chahal pitches it short and Maxwell pulls to the mid-wicket fence for his first boundary

OVERS 29.3: OUT! Chahal induces an edge off Stoinis' (10) bat and Rohit Sharma dives to his right to take a fine catch. Australia 123/5

OVERS 27.2: FOUR! Stoinis on drives a Chahal delivery for his first boundary

OVERS 23.4: OUT! Khawaja (34) gets a soft leading edge and Chahal takes a simple return catch. Australia 101/4

OVERS 23.2: OUT! Chahal has Marsh (39) stumped by Dhoni off a wide delivery down the leg side. Australia 100/3

Yuzvendra Chahal has been introduced in the attack

OVERS 22.3: FOUR! Jadeja continues, Khawaja reverse sweeps for his second boundary

50-run stand up between Khawaja and Marsh off 64 balls

15 runs off that over by Jadhav

OVERS 19.4: FOUR! Another short ball from Jadhav and Marsh pulls to mid-wicket again

OVERS 19.2: Marsh hits through the covers for three runs

OVERS 19.1: FOUR! Jadhav bowls it really short and Marsh pulls to the mid-wicket fence, that bounced just before the boundary

18 overs gone, Ravindra Jadeja has been introduced in the attack

OVERS 16.3: FOUR! Marsh pulls to the mid-wicket fence for his first boundary

OVERS 16.1: 50 up for Australia as Khawaja flicks a Shankar delivery to fine leg for a single

OVERS 15.2: DROPPED! Jadhav induces an edge off Marsh's bat, the ball goes in and out of Dhoni's gloves

Double bowling change, Kedar Jadhav has been introduced in the attack

Ten overs gone, debutant Vijay Shankar has been introduced in the attack

OVERS 8.6: OUT! Bhuvneshwar traps Finch (14) plumb in front, so standing outside the crease didn't help the Aussie captain. Australia 27/2

OVERS 8.5: Bhuvneshwar bowls from just adjacent to the umpire, Finch pulls away, it is declared a dead ball

OVERS 6.3: FOUR! Finch edges to third man just wide of the lone slip for his first boundary

OVERS 6.2: Finch covers drives a Bhuvneshwar delivery, Jadeja gives chase, pulls it back just short of the boundary and Finch runs four

OVERS 5.3: FOUR! Khawaja square cuts a Shami delivery to the point fence to get off the mark

OVERS 2.5: OUT! Bhuvneshwar comes round the wicket, Carey (5) edges to second slip for Virat Kohli to take the catch. Australia 8/1

OVERS 1.3: Carey pulls to mid-wicket for his first boundary

Mohammed Shami bowls the second over of the match

OVER 0.6: Finch edges but the ball just falls short of Rohit Sharma at first slip

Rain stops, play resumes at the MCG

Rain stops play after just two deliveries, Australia 1/0

Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowls the first over the match, Alex Carey on stike

Start of the match has been delayed by 10 minutes due to rain

Yuzvendra Chahal comes in for Kuldeep Yadav and Kedar Jadhav replaces Ambati Rayudu.

Vijay Shankar has got his ODI cap, he will be making his debut at the MCG, replacing Mohammed Siraj.

For Australia, Billy Stanlake comes in for Behrendorff and Adam Zampa replaces Nathan Lyon.

Indian captain Virat Kohli wins toss, opts to bowl against Australia in overcast conditions

Toss was delayed slightly due to rain

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli(c), MS Dhoni(w), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal

Australia (Playing XI): Alex Carey(w), Aaron Finch(c), Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Billy Stanlake, Peter Siddle, Adam Zampa