Cheteshwar Pujara on Saturday (November 23) shared his experience of facing the pink ball in India’s ongoing Day-Night Test against Bangladesh. As per India’s seasoned No. 3 batsman, the most difficult task was to tackle the pink ball at twilight.

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Pujara contributed 55 in India’s first innings total of 347/9 (declared) after the hosts bundled out Bangladesh for 106 at the iconic Eden Gardens.

"Batting under lights was difficult but when we start playing under lights, it's a bit more challenging. The first session is slightly easier to bat when there are no lights. But when the lights come into play, the ball starts swinging a bit more. It's the most testing times of the day. It's easy to sight the ball under sunlight," Pujara said after the second day's proceedings.

Batting in the second innings, the visitors were tottering at 13/4 but Mushfiqur Rahim helped his team avoid the humiliation of losing inside two days with a gritty knock of 59 not out.

"That (twilight) was the right time to bowl. The ball was swinging and we thought we can pick up early wickets. That was the right time and the dew wasn't there. Dew started after tea time," Pujara remarked.

He also believes that the ideal time to bat with the pink ball is at the start of the innings and late into the final session.

"It's a mix of both. Once dew comes in it again becomes easier. It's the first couple of hours and maybe the last hour," Pujara said.

Sharing his experience of facing both Kookaburra (Duleep Trophy) and SG pink balls, Pujara said the latter swings a bit more and also gives assistance to the spinners.

"This ball is travelling fast from the bat like Kookaburra but SG swings a little bit more. Again there's not much assistance for spinners with Kookaburra but we saw both Ashwin and Taijul spinning the ball here. There's little assistance for spinners but it still not as much as the red ball."

(With PTI inputs)