OTD: India won their first-ever pink-ball Test in Kolkata in 2019

On this day in 2019, India scripted a record moment in their Test history by winning their first-ever day-night Test, defeating Bangladesh by an innings and 46 runs at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The fixture, played with the pink ball for the first time in India, was headlined by a dominant all-round performance by Ishant Sharma and Virat Kohli.

The second Test of the Bangladesh tour began with the visitors electing to bat first. However, they struggled from the start against India’s pace attack. Ishant dismantled the top order with a brilliant five-wicket haul, finishing with figures of 5 for 22. His opening burst, along with Umesh Yadav’s three wickets and Mohammad Shami’s two, bundled the visitors out for just 106 in 30.3 overs. Shadman Islam’s 29 was the only notable score in an otherwise disappointing innings.

India’s batting was anchored by Kohli, who smashed a century of 136 off 194 balls. Meanwhile, other batters, including Cheteshwar Pujara (55) and Ajinkya Rahane (51), added valuable half-centuries, helping the hosts post a huge 347 for 9 declared.

Ebadot Hossain and Al-Amin Hossain picked three wickets each, but Bangladesh’s bowlers struggled to contain the Indian batters. The trend continued as Bangladesh failed again in their second innings. Ishant and Umesh once again exploited the conditions, with the latter claiming a five-wicket haul while the former added four more to his tally, finishing with match figures of 9 for 78. Mushfiqur Rahim showed some fight with 74, but Bangladesh eventually were bowled out for 195.

“I thought Umesh or Ishant, either could have got the award. It felt good. Conditions were challenging with the pink ball under lights. It puts you in a situation to get your technique right and get into that Test match mode try to see off the situation and that’s the fun of Test matches when bowlers put you under pressure and you eventually come on top and score runs,” Kohli said at the post-match interview. 

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