Buzz around day-night Test reminds Kohli of India, Pakistan clash

Skipper Virat Kohli said on Thursday that he welcomed the "buzz" around India's grand day-night Test debut but said pink-ball matches should not become a regular occurrence.

Kohli said the occasion reminded him of the 2016 World Twenty20 clash with arch-rivals Pakistan at Eden Gardens, which witnessed a host of big names in attendance including Imran Khan, former cricketer and now Pakistan's prime minister.

India begin their pink-ball journey against Bangladesh on Friday in Kolkata, with the first four days sold out, contrasting with daytime Tests in India when crowds are often sparse.

"This can be a one-off thing. It should not in my opinion become a regular scenario, because then you are losing out on that nervousness of the first session in the morning," Kohli told reporters at Eden Gardens. "The entertainment of Test cricket lies in the fact that the batsman is trying to survive a session and the bowler trying to get a batsman out."

 "It's great to create more buzz around Test cricket," he added.

Day-night Tests, aimed at increasing crowds and TV audiences for the longer format, were successfully introduced in 2015 when Australia played New Zealand in Adelaide.

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England, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies have all played at least one day-night Test.

But until now, India have kept away, with its cricket board last year refusing to play a day-night Test in Adelaide.

"Obviously, we wanted to get a feel of pink-ball cricket. Eventually it had to happen," said Kohli.

India lead the two-match series 1-0 after thrashing Bangladesh at Indore inside three days to largely empty stands.

A striking spectacle is planned for the start of the Test on Friday with Bangladesh's prime minister and the local state chief minister set to begin proceedings by ringing the stadium bell.