The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been notably hesitant in scheduling day-night Test matches at home since India hosted its first pink-ball Test against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens in November 2019. Despite the initial excitement surrounding these matches, the BCCI has refrained from hosting any more since their last day-night Test against Sri Lanka in 2022 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has now shed light on the reasoning behind this cautious approach.

Shah pointed out that pink-ball Tests in India have consistently ended within 2-3 days, which undermines the traditional five-day format. This not only impacts the competitive balance of the matches but also has financial repercussions for spectators and broadcasters. "You buy a ticket for a five-day match, but the game ends in 2-3 days…There is no refund. I am slightly emotional about this," Shah explained during an interview with the Times of India.

The concerns are not unfounded. India's first pink-ball Test in Kolkata against Bangladesh ended in just three days, with the hosts securing an innings victory. This was followed by a two-day Test against England in Ahmedabad, where India clinched a dominant 10-wicket win amid unusually low scores. The trend continued in the third day-night Test against Sri Lanka, which also wrapped up within three days. These results have led the BCCI to reconsider hosting such matches, especially given the potential disappointment for fans who purchase tickets for a full five-day experience.

Shah emphasized that the BCCI must consider the sentiments of both fans and broadcasters. "Pink-ball Tests get over within two days in India. As a result, spectators lose money, broadcasters lose money. We need to look at sentiments also," he said. He also acknowledged that while matches sometimes end early due to one-sided performances, it’s the recurring nature of shortened pink-ball Tests that has raised concerns.

With India set to play a pink-ball Test during their upcoming tour of Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the focus will be on how the format is received abroad. For now, however, it seems unlikely that Indian fans will witness another day-night Test on home soil anytime soon, as the BCCI remains cautious about the impact of these matches on the traditional Test experience.