Gautam Gambhir is India's head coach. PC- X.com/BhttDNSH100
The ICC recently approved the red-to-pink ball change rule to help teams push for results even when bad lights had stopped play. With the new law set to be implemented on a trial basis, it has already divided the cricketing fraternity into two halves.
After the ICC meeting, where the new laws were approved, former South African batter Rassie van der Dussen openly bashed the international body. However, the Indian head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has backed the ICC's decision.
Deficient India looking to revive WTC campaign
After the end of the busy IPL 2026, India will resume its international calendar, starting with the one-off Test match against Afghanistan scheduled for June 6.
Although the IND vs AFG Test match won't be a part of the WTC 2025-27 cycle, it will be India's first outing since the horrible series whitewash by South Africa earlier this year. Currently, sitting in sixth place on the WTC 2025-27 Standing - even below Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - India
Fan Gautam Gambhir advertises red-to-pink ball change rule
On the eve of the one-off IND vs AFG Test match, head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the press and spoke at length, mainly about the ICC's red-to-pink ball law.
The former Test cricketer, who played 58 Tests for India, seems to be a fan of the rule, as he thinks it would help extend play when there's still a realistic chance of achieving a result in a Test match.
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"Oh, I love that. In fact, the reason is because I always believe that if there's an opportunity to get a result, you should always have that opportunity. Imagine if you're playing the last Test match before the World Test Championship final and you have... have the chance to win that Test match and qualify, and if because of uh, bad light, it's not happening, I would all... I'm all for it," Gautam Gambhir has said in a pre-match press conference as quoted by Subhayan Chakraborty.
"That if there's an opportunity to get the result and both the teams agree to it, I know it could be a little unfair on or difficult for the players playing the Test match, but imagine working hard for two years and last Test match before the World Test Championship final, if it gets what... if it... if you don't play five days because of bad light, how unfair can... could that be?" the Indian head coach added.
"So, I think it's a proactive move, it's a positive move, and hopefully, teams will start taking it in a positive way," he concluded.
India's schedule for 2026
The IND vs AFG one-off Test match will resume India's cricketing calendar, but the Men in Blue will be busy in white-ball tours till November, when they will tour New Zealand for a two-match Test series.
Before the Test series Down Under, Team India will play 17 T20Is and 15 ODIs, along with the Asian Games 2026 in Japan (scheduled in the T20I format).
The next year and a half will be crucial for both Team India and the head coach ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
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