Slightly emotional: BCCI Secretary Jay Shah explains board's reluctance to host day-night Tests

India have hosted only a handful of day-night Tests so far. The Indian men's team hosted its first-ever day-night Test, also their first overall, in late 2019 when Bangladesh toured India for two Tests. Since then, India have only hosted two more pink-ball Tests on Indian soil. Recently, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah explained the board's reluctance to host day-night games in the purest format. Shah expressed how such contests end in 2-3 days, demeaning the traditional five-day format,and lead to loss for broadcasters as well as spectators.

During an interaction with TOI, Shah said, "You buy a ticket for a five-day match, but the game ends in 2-3 days…There is no refund. I am slightly emotional about this."

India defeated Bangladesh within three days when they hosted their first-ever day-night Test. The match was held at the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata where Virat Kohli & Co. won by an innings and46 runs. Post the Covid-19 outbreak, when India played their firstTest series on home, they hosted England in a five-match series. The fourth and penultimate Test was held at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad. The contest also ended soon, in two days, with India winning by ten wickets.

The last day-night Test in India took place in early 2022, when Rohit Sharma took over as India's all-format skipper post Kohli's resignation as the red-ball skipper. It was the second and final Test between India and Sri Lanka, held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where the home side wonby 238 runs. The contest again ended in three days.

While India isn't hosting day-night Tests, the national side will play a pink-ball Test during their upcoming tour of Australia, later this year. Before that, India will play host to Bangladesh and New Zealand -- with no pink-ball contest -- prior to their departure Down Under. In Australia, they play five Tests with the second match being a day-night contest, in Adelaide Oval, Adelaide. India's last day-night Test on foreign soil was also at the same venue, in late 2020, when Kohli-led India succumbed to an embarrassing eight-wicket loss after falling for 36 in their second innings.