After India’s comprehensive innings and 46-run victory in the second Test against Bangladesh, skipper Virat Kohli put forward his ideas to revive interest in the game's traditional format.
As per Kohli, creating a buzz around Test cricket with attractive marketing, similar to ODIs and T20s, is must to pull spectators to the stands.
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India's last series against South Africa witnessed a poor turnout but almost 50,000 fans attended the maiden Day-Night Test at Eden Gardens which involved a lot of activities on the sidelines.
"I think it's very, very crucial to market Test cricket like we do for ODIs and T20Is. It's not only the job of the players but it spreads out to the management the cricket Board and the home broadcasters about how you portray a particular product to the people," Kohli said at the post-match press conference.
"If you create an excitement only around the T20 cricket and not much around Test cricket then in the psyche of the fans there's already a certain template that's established," he added.
The India captain feels red-ball cricket needs to be strengthened and suggested the idea of having interaction with the fans, especially school children during the games.
"I think if if there's enough buzz created around Test cricket then there will be a lot more keenness to come to the stadium. Like you have in venues abroad, there's something or the other happening, maybe a play area for games. Maybe schoolchildren could interact with Team India players during lunch.
"I think all these things will really bring that strength into Test cricket and people would want to come in and have an experience of a Test match. It should be an event where you come and experience cricket, not just sit there and watch in you know, hot conditions. So I think there has to be more for the fan. I totally agree with that and has to be marketed well."
Last month, Kohli had suggested that the number of Test centres in the country shall be limited to just five, with a preference to only traditional venues.
"Look, you want to keep Test cricket alive and exciting, I totally agree with the fact that we should have five Test centres at max," he had told reporters after India won the third Test in Ranchi to complete a 3-0 whitewash over South Africa.
"It can't be sporadic and spread over so many places where people turn up or they don't. We have been discussing this for a long time now, and in my opinion we should have five Test centres. Period."
(With PTI inputs)
