The stage is set; history awaits as Bangladesh and India will confront in the maiden day-night Test of the subcontinent at Eden Gardens in Kolkata today. The match is scheduled to start at 1:30 pm. The Indian Army paratroopers will fly into the Eden Gardens to hand over a pink ball to each of the captains just before the toss.
The enthusiasm is palpable in Kolkata as the ‘City of Joy’ has gone for pink to make the occasion a memorable one with numerous buildings and infrastructures in the city covered with decorations including eye-catching graffiti. Bangladesh tasted a humiliating innings and 130-run defeat to India in the first Test in its first ever India Test series. So, the Tigers would like to make amends for the humiliating defeat, and at least try to compete against a strong Indian outfit.
In Indore Test, Bangladesh were outplayed in every department of the game, so they need to reboot themselves ahead of this historic Kolkata Test. Especially, abysmal batting is something Tigers need to put right. No one except Mushfiqur Rahim made a meaningful contribution in the first Test. So, all the batsmen need to get their act together and bat resolutely in both the innings if they are to have any chance of at least taking the Test to the fifth day against a fiery Indian pace attack.
In bowling, Bangladesh are likely to bring in Mustafizur Rahman and Al-Amin Hossain in place of Taijul Islam and Ebadot Hossain. They don't have any reserve batsmen to bring into the line-up, although indications are that Mushfiqur Rahim will go back up to the No. 4 position. So the stage is all set ahead of this historic Test, will we see another Indian domination or will the Tigers finally show up and put their mark in the first day-night Test. Only time will tell.