AUS vs IND: How India has fared in pink ball Tests over the years-OxBig News Network

India’s tryst with Pink Ball Test cricket began in 2019, and since then, the team has showcased its dominance with several emphatic victories. These matches have showed India’s adaptability to the Day-Night Test format. The journey began at Eden Gardens in Kolkata against Bangladesh in November 2019, marking India’s first-ever Pink Ball Test. The historic occasion was made even more special by a commanding win. Ishant Sharma was the hero with the ball, taking 9 wickets across two innings (5/22 and 4/56).

Virat Kohli, with a magnificent 136, became the first Indian to score a century in a Day-Night Test. Bangladesh was outplayed, falling to an innings and 46-run defeat as India’s pace trio of Ishant, Mohammed Shami, and Umesh Yadav proved unplayable under lights.

India’s pink ball outings so far

A year later, India faced Australia in a Day-Night Test at the Adelaide Oval in December 2020. What unfolded was one of the darkest moments in Indian Test cricket. After a strong start in the first innings, where they posted 244 and restricted Australia to 191, India collapsed to their lowest-ever Test total of 36 in the second innings. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood wreaked havoc, and Australia secured an eight-wicket win. The shocking collapse was later overshadowed by India’s brilliant performance in the remaining matches, clinching the series 2-1.

India bounced back in February 2021 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad with a dominant win against England. This match, one of the then shortest in Test history, ended in just two days. Axar Patel spun his way into the spotlight, claiming 11 wickets (6/38 and 5/32), while Ravichandran Ashwin picked 7 scalps and contributed a crucial half-century. England crumbled for 112 and 81 in their two innings as India secured a dominant 10-wicket victory. The match showed India’s spin strength on home soil.

India won 3 out 4 d/n matches

In March 2022, India took on Sri Lanka in a Day-Night Test at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Batting first on a challenging surface, India posted 252, thanks to Shreyas Iyer’s resilient 92. The bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah (5/24), bundled Sri Lanka out for 109. In the second innings, Iyer continued his fine form with a vital 67, setting Sri Lanka a mammoth target of 447. Ashwin and Axar Patel chipped in with wickets, and Sri Lanka folded for 208, handing India a massive 238-run win.