City of Joy Becomes City of Pink for the Inaugural Pink Ball Test in India

November 2013 was likewise proof that Eden and Kolkata are never short of a festival. Sachin Tendulkar landed for his 199th Test coordinate with his patterns everywhere throughout the city, ventured off the group transport to a confetti shower, and strolled into the arena with melodies about him playing for all to hear. His face was emblemized on one side of the flip coin, as well. That was Kolkata at its celebratory best, where the lines among guilty pleasure and overindulgence were obscured. 

And afterward, there is a present. A city glad to hold onto the pink - as observed from the Howrah connect and a couple of unmistakable structures close to the arena - while the groups themselves are yet to ultimately get a handle on the functionalities of the new shade of the ball. As late as the eve of the installation, Virat Kohli conceded there were as yet dark areas concerning how the ball would act under various conditions and the amount of a test it would have been.

At the point when you swim past several fans arranging outside the first door of the Eden Gardens and stroll in, you run into one portion of the Pinku-Tinku mascot combo. There's a pink airship high in the sky - unmistakable from miles away, exquisite cricket paintings are embellishing the dividers around the arena, and the lights in the Jagmohan Dalmiya and Sourav Ganguly stands have a pink tone to it. What's more, the loftiness, all things considered, doesn't end there. 

Bangladesh PM Sheik Hasina and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee will ring the bell before the beginning of the play, while paratroopers - indeed, you read that right - will fly in to convey the pink balls to the two skippers toward the opening. 

Day-Night Test is at long last in India, and Sourav Ganguly and Co. have pulled out all the stops or thought to make a blending buzz. There's been moment satisfaction for every one of the endeavors as well, as quick ticket deals that have seen the initial four days of the test being sold out as of now.

The fast turnaround time between the recently named BCCI president Sourav Ganguly recommending the need to play a Day-Night apparatus and the load up facilitating one was shockingly short, given India's hesitance to play it in Australia in late 2018. Be that as it may, Kohli had a guard to offer, trusting it's the kind of an idea that first should be trialed- at home before the group can dive in on away shores. 

With the goal that preliminary is here, to clear a path for a future where India will support such difficulties all the more frequently, and not merely in their very own lawn. What's more, past all the exhibition in Kolkata and the way that the two groups will start with a clear record even with something they've not experienced previously, India is still prepared to take every one of the 60 on offer.

Why pink ball?

The common concept of Test matches for morning to evening is played with a red ball. In the case of Day/Night Tests, the visibility factor comes into the picture as they are performed under artificial lights, and hence, the pink-colored ball is used.

The red ball loses shine and color and appears brown as the play progresses. Hence red one makes it difficult for the batsmen to spot the ball under the floodlights. The much referred pink balls have better visibility and lose their freshness and shape after a long time. This is the reason they are preferred in Test cricket matches under the light.

Experiments were done with yellow, orange, and pink balls. Suggestions came as to continue the game with an improved white ball that could last 80 overs with the players wearing colored kits.

All the previously 11 pink ball Tests played had a result. The pink ball is found to have a better swing.

Kookaburra, Dukes, and SG are the three leading manufacturers of cricket balls in all international cricket matches. In India, the SG ball is used. England, Ireland, and the West Indies are more likely to use Dukes that are made in England. Other test playing nations use the Kookaburra ball that is from Australia.

Timings for the match in Eden Gardens 

The match will have its first interval at 3:00 pm IST. The second session of the match will resume at 3:40 pm IST. 

Tea break is planned at 5.40 pm, which will be a 20-minute break. The final session of the match is scheduled to start at 6:00 pm IST.

Price of the pink ball 

In 2016, when a domestic tournament called Duleep Trophy was played with imported pink balls, the BCCI had asked the players not to take the ball as souvenirs as they were costly and ranged Rs 8,000. The ball manufactured by SG is cheaper and costs Rs 2,700.

Know the difference between red and pink ball

The stitched seam on the SG pink ball is usually stitched with black thread, but it is white on a typical red ball. The pink ball usually has a fine layer of extra color and paints to improve visibility under floodlights.

Since all SG balls are hand-stitched, the seam is a bit more pronounced. Keeping the dew in mind, the stitching is seen more prominently in a pink ball. You can also find an extra lacquer on the pink ball to give it more shine.

Don't miss the moments

The twilight session which stands for the time when the sun sets and the floodlights will get stronger. There will be a phase of 30 minutes that can decide the fate of the scorecard of a batting team. And when the moon shows up, then the test for the bowlers and fielders will begin as in winter Kolkata always gets enough dew and the moisture from the river Ganges will play a significant role in this case.