From Rahul Dravid to Virat Kohli: Tracing India's first pink ball hundreds

Shreyasi

Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid [Source: X/@BCCI, @ICC]Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid [Source: X/@BCCI, @ICC]

Day-night Test matches with a pink ball offer an engaging spectacle and draw crowds, despite their flaws and tendency toward bowling dominance. The inaugural men's Day-Night Test occurred nearly ten years ago, and Australia will host England in Brisbane for another during the Ashes next month, marking 25 such matches.

In March 2027, the same teams are scheduled to face each other at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the very first Test match.

On this day: Virat Kohli's hundred under the lights at Eden

India played their first-ever pink ball Test match six years ago. It commenced on 22 November at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. India hosted Bangladesh for their maiden Test encounter in the city.

Ishant Sharma took 5 wickets, dismissing the hosts for 106. India finished day one at 174/3. Indian captain Virat Kohli was in his best form. He handled the challenges thrown by the pink ball under lights to remain unbeaten on 59 at stumps on day one. 

Some of his cover drives and straight drives were exquisite and a treat for the spectators on a historic day. Each shot was executed with precision and grace, adding to the excitement of the occasion.

On the second day of the Test match, Kohli reached a significant milestone. He became the first Indian batter to score a century in a pink ball Test. He reached this landmark with a flick shot towards square leg off Taijul Islam, the left-arm spinner.

The Eden Gardens crowd rose to its feet to applaud yet another outstanding batting performance from one of cricket’s modern icons. Kohli finished with 136 runs, an innings highlighted by 18 boundaries.

India completed a comfortable win the very next day. They beat the tourists by an innings and 46 runs. Ishant Sharma was adjudged the player of the match and series.

The forgotten feat by Rahul Dravid at Abu Dhabi

Although Kohli remains the first-ever Indian to score a pink ball Test hundred, the honour of scoring a pink ball First-class hundred as the first Indian goes to former India captain and coach, Rahul Dravid.

In 2011, MCC played Nottinghamshire in a Champion County match at Abu Dhabi under lights using a pink ball. The Marylebone Cricket Club featured several notable international players, including Chris Rogers, Dawid Malan, and Mohammad Nabi, along with Dravid.

Dravid scored a 2-ball duck in the first innings as MCC were dismissed for 218. However, they came back strong and bowled out Nottinghamshire for 108. Dravid took the catch of Samit Patel off Steve Kirby, who picked up 5 wickets for MCC.

In the second innings, Rahul Dravid demonstrated his trademark composure and technical prowess at the crease. He batted for more than four hours to score 106, which included 21 boundaries. Most of it unfolded on day two under the lights. 

Dravid’s experience and class were once again on display as he anchored the innings, guiding MCC to a total of 357. From then on, there was only one result possible. Nottinghamshire were all out for 293 in their second innings with Dravid taking another catch, this time as a wicket keeper. MCC won the match by 174 runs.

Dravid’s performance, followed by Kohli’s century at the Eden Gardens Test, reinforced the technical excellence and ability of the Indian batters to play under any challenges and adapt to unique conditions.