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Kohli open to pink-ball Aussie Test

3 minute read

Indian captain Virat Kohli has declared his team is open to playing in a day-night Test in Australia next summer.

VIRAT KOHLI of India plays a shot during the ICC Cricket World Cup between India and Australia at The Oval in London, England.
VIRAT KOHLI of India plays a shot during the ICC Cricket World Cup between India and Australia at The Oval in London, England. Picture: Henry Browne/Getty Images

Virat Kohli has declared his team are ready for the challenge of a day-night Test in Australia next summer and he is open to playing one.

India flogged Bangladesh in their first pink-ball Test late last year, but have previously refused to play the games under lights.

The issue became a sticking point on the team's last tour of Australia, where no match was also played at the Aussies' fortress of the Gabba.

Cricket Australia boss Kevin Roberts is in India this week meeting new BCCI boss Sourav Ganguly, with a day-night Test expected to be on the agenda.

But Kohli welcomed the prospect of finally facing the Aussies in one, despite them being undefeated in seven pink-ball Tests.

"We played the day-night Test here, we were very happy with how it went," he said.

"It's become a very exciting feature of any series, so we are absolutely open to play a day-night Test.

"We are ready and up for the challenge."

Kohli also said his team would be happy to play in Brisbane, after Tim Paine joked earlier in the summer he would have to ask the Indian captain where he wanted matches.

The Australian players are firm in their stance they want the series-opener at the Gabba, while there is a push from Western Australia to make sure one match is played in Perth.

Whoever misses out will likely instead host Afghanistan in a one-off Test.

"Whether it is the Gabba or Perth, it doesn't matter to us," Kohli said.

"We have the skill sets as a team to compete against anyone in the world anywhere, whether it is white ball, pink ball or red ball."

"We are absolutely up for it."

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