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.

ADELAIDE: Virat Kohli has no peers in ODIs but he has a priceless message for youngsters - sole focus on limited overs formats shouldn't be an 'excuse' for not being able to cope with the challenges of Test cricket.

World's No. 1 batsman with 25 Test hundreds warned that youngsters will have mental problems if they don't embrace the pristine form of five-day cricket.

"If we focus too much on shorter formats - yes, they're important - but if we solely focus and look at them as an escape or an excuse to not be in the kind of situations that Test cricket presents to you, then I think there will start being a mental problem with the cricketers coming up," Kohli was quoted as saying by Star Sports.

The Indian skipper, who has played a few defining knocks against world class bowlers like James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Mitchell Starc during the past year spoke about the hard work that goes into making of a quality Test player.

"As long as you're willing to wake up every morning for five days and do the hard yards and go do the dirty work - if you're willing to bat for two hours and not score a run for the team - I think that is what people should prepare (youngsters) (for)."

Kohli said the current batch of Indian Test cricketers are trying to set an example for the younger generation.

"That (vision) will require the team to lay out a certain things that needs to be done and for the next lot to keep following. So (when) the next lot that comes in, they have to maintain that vision and then the people coming in will follow."

Virat Kohli has reaffirmed his commitment towards Test cricket, saying he wants India to become a superpower in the game's longest format.

Number-one ranked India recently won their maiden Test series in Australia under Kohli's leadership.

"I wouldn't say goal but I would rather speak of a vision, which is for India to be a superpower in Test cricket or a very, very strong side in Test cricket in the years to come,"

"I think if Indian cricket respects Test cricket, and Indian players respect Test cricket, then Test cricket will stay at the top because of the fan base that we have all over the world."

Kohli was made India captain for the first time in the middle of the 2014-15 Test series in Australia with MS Dhoni announcing a shock retirement.

He credited coach Ravi Shastri for making his job easier.

"Ever since 2014, I think he's (Shastri) one person who's given me honest feedback whenever things required to be altered.

"I remember we sat down (last year). I'd scored a Test century and a fifty in the same game in England, so he called me and he said, as far as batting is concerned, I'm not going to discuss anything with you now because you've done something which I am proud of and everyone is proud of.

"But as a captain, I need to start thinking how to get the best out of this team and how to tactically be spot on. And that really hit me because I felt like, you know, there's so much more to captaincy than you sometimes think."

Before departing for the Australia tour, Kohli had dismissed the perception that Shastri was "yes-man" to him. He explained again what Shastri brings to the table.

"He is one person, because he's done so much commentary, and he's seen the game so much and has played so much himself - just watching the game - he knows where the game is heading.

"So just getting feedback from him constantly has been the biggest help for me, in terms of moulding my own personality into captaincy. He's someone who has never tried to change me just to be able to fit into the captaincy mode," Kohli added.