‘If there’s an opportunity to get a result’: Gautam Gambhir backs ICC’s pink ball rule for bad light

NEW DELHI: India head coach Gautam Gambhir has thrown his weight behind a new ICC regulation allowing the use of a pink ball under floodlights in red-ball matches punctuated by poor light, calling it a “proactive” and “positive” move that could prevent teams from being denied crucial results.Ahead of India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, Gambhir said the administrators of the game must do everything possible to ensure that matches reach an end, especially when the stakes are high.“I love it. In fact, I’ve always believed that if there’s an opportunity to get a result, you should always have it,” Gambhir said when asked about the rule change. The India coach pointed to the Test World Cup and the possibility of teams missing out on qualification due to weather interruptions.“Imagine you’re playing the last Test match before the World Test Championship final and you have a chance to win that Test match and qualify. And if it doesn’t happen because of bad light, I’m all for it,” he explained.“How unfair could that be?”Gambhir acknowledged that the switch from the red ball to the pink during the Test could pose challenges for the players, but felt that the larger objective of keeping results outweighed the difficulties.“I know it might be a bit unfair and difficult for the Test match players. But imagine toiling hard for two years and the last Test match before the World Test Championship final. If you don’t play for five days because of bad luck, how unfair could it be?” he said.“So I think it’s a proactive step. It’s a positive step and hopefully teams will start taking it positively,” he added.“Every player appreciates Test cricket‘Gambhir also dismissed the notion that one individual or a handful of players could revive Test cricket, insisting that every generation of cricketers places immense value on the format.“I am not giving it. Everyone is giving it. Test cricket cannot survive or revive because of an individual,” he said. “Everyone in the dressing room is giving it importance. All the players who played before me, who will play after me, they all want to do well in Test cricket.”The former India opener emphasized that every Test is of equal importance, irrespective of the opposition or the implications of the World Cup.“There are a lot of young players in the dressing room and they should cherish every Test match. Very few people get the opportunity to play Test cricket and it is a great honor for me to represent India in this format,” he added.

What is the new ICC pink ball rule?

To minimize time lost due to poor lighting, the ICC has approved a trial that allows teams to switch from the traditional red ball to the pink ball and continue playing under floodlights.However, the referees cannot enforce the change. Both teams must agree to the substitution before the start of the match. If play is interrupted by poor natural light and the venue has sufficient lighting, a pink ball may be introduced to avoid losing overs.The aim of the trial is to reduce frustrating stoppages and increase the chances of Test matches producing results, especially at a time when every point of the Test World Cup could prove crucial.