NEW DELHI: Test cricket is widely regarded as the purest and most traditional form of the sport. While limited-overs formats like ODI and T20 have gained immense popularity, Test cricket retains its place as the format that most reflects the complete essence of the game.
Many cricket purists and players still consider Test cricket to be the "real" cricket.
Test cricket holds immense importance in India, both from a historical and cultural perspective. Despite the rise of shorter formats like ODIs and T20s, especially with the popularity of the IPL, Test cricket remains a cornerstone of Indian cricket.
Now as Team India gears up for a three-match Test series against New Zealand that starts in Bengaluru from Wednesday, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) shared a video of the Indian cricket team during a practice session with a voiceover of Ravichandran Ashwin who explains the importance of Test cricket.
As the video plays in slow motion, Ashwin says, "Test cricket is constantly about adaptability. You can't start Day 5 like how you start Day 1. Every day you need to be able to adapt alongwith the conditions. That's why they say Test cricket is the pinnacle of this particular sport!"
The video ends with a headshot of a Team India helmet alongside a caption that says, "WE ARE BACK!"
New Zealand first toured India in 1955-56 and their last tour was in 2021-22. But the Kiwis are yet to win a Test series in India.
The second and third Tests of the series are scheduled to start in Pune and Mumbai from October 24 and November 1 respectively.
