Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly has tipped Team India as favourites to win the Day-Night Test against England, starting February 24 in Ahmedabad.
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Last week, India levelled the four-match Test series 1-1 with an emphatic 317-run win in the second Test at Chepauk.
"Indian cricket has changed a lot and our cricketers have done so well. I am sure if we play well, we are going to win it. I generally don't predict but I feel India is favourite here," Ganguly told ANI.
India have so far staged only one Day-Night Test and it was against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens in November 2019, in which the hosts outclassed their neighbours by an innings and 46 runs inside three days.
It will be the first time that India and England face each other in a pink ball Test and according to the BCCI boss, it is the future of the longest format of the game.
"Pink-ball Test is the future of Test cricket. I remember when we hosted the pink-ball Test vs Bangladesh in Kolkata, it was a jam-packed stadium and the crowd also loved it. Cricketers also enjoy it, so I feel the pink-ball Test has a long way to go," he stated.
The renovated Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad will host the third Test between India and England. It is the world's largest cricket stadium with a sitting capacity of 1,10,000.
Commenting on the refurbished stadium, Ganguly said: "It's really a big day for the Indian cricket. Having such kind of facility is something which itself is saying everything. Motera Stadium is going to create history. We have many upcoming international tournaments and I am sure we'll stage many matches here, it's a fantastic stadium."
Keeping in mind the ICC World Test Championship final, the remaining two Tests between India and England hold great significance.
While the hosts need to win at least one more match and draw the other if they are to qualify for the final, England ought to win both the remaining games.
(With ANI inputs)
