India head coach Gautam Gambhir says he has no issue with Tests moving from red to pink balls when fading light threatens a result, and he has confirmed that B Sai Sudharsan – not Devdutt Padikkal – will slot in at No.3 for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh.
“It’s a proactive move, it’s a positive move,” Gambhir said on Wednesday, the eve of the fixture. “I love that because I’ve always believed that if there’s an opportunity to get a result, you should always have that opportunity.”
The ICC proposal allows the switch if both captains agree and umpires feel the natural light is no longer safe. Gambhir framed the idea against the wider backdrop of the World Test Championship (WTC), where a single wash-out can end a two-year campaign.
“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 to qualify, and because of bad light, it’s not happening,” he said. “How unfair that could be.”
Current position in WTC
India were blanked 2-0 at home by South Africa recently and sit sixth, with 48.15% of possible points. Even so, Gambhir insists the dressing-room mood is upbeat.
“Till you have the opportunity to qualify for the World Test Championship final, you are always optimistic,” he noted. “We know the kind of quality we have … I don’t think there is any reason not to believe that we cannot win the World Test Championship.”
One eye on Sri Lanka, then New Zealand
The Afghanistan Test is outside the WTC window but serves as rehearsal for two away Tests in Sri Lanka in August and two more in New Zealand in November. Since Shubman Gill has shifted to No.4 following Virat Kohli’s retirement, India are auditioning a new first-drop.
Gambhir, though, is not looking beyond Sai Sudharsan for now. The left-hander has 302 Test runs at 27.45, though most of those came on debut in England, a notoriously tricky starting point for overseas batters.
“Honestly, Sai hasn’t got a fair chance,” Gambhir argued. “He has only played a handful of Test matches and he started his Test career in England, which we all know is not the easiest place [to bat in]. He has had a phenomenal run in the IPL as well and we have got to give him a fair chance.”
Padikkal will have to wait
Padikkal pressed his case with 543 Ranji Trophy runs at 60.33, but Gambhir says selection is still about balance rather than just numbers. “You can only pick XI, unfortuna—” he began, before cutting himself off and laughing at the abruptness of team sheets. The message, though, was clear: Padikkal’s turn will come, but not yet.
Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate echoed the view earlier in the week, hinting that India prefer stability at No.3, especially with two overseas tours looming. “A long rope will be given to India’s No.3,” he said, adding that technical tweaks are easier when a player knows he is safe for more than one innings.
Why the pink ball matters
India have played three day-night Tests – two wins at home, one heavy defeat in Adelaide – so familiarity is growing. While the pink ball can nibble under lights, its harder lacquer also survives longer than the red ball, meaning spinners may have to wait. Gambhir shrugged off those nuances. A definitive outcome, he feels, matters more than any minor change in playing conditions, particularly when championship points are on the line.
Looking ahead
Kick-off in New Chandigarh is scheduled for 9.30am local time on Thursday. The forecast is clear for most of the match, yet the ground’s late-afternoon glare has been a problem in the past. If the umpires reach for the pink Kookaburra, at least both camps now know India’s coach will not complain.
For the moment, Gambhir’s two big calls – endorsing the ball-swap idea and sticking with Sai Sudharsan – are in. Whether either decision shapes the final scoreline, we’ll discover over the next five days.
