January 13, 2020 UPDATED: January 13, 2020 10:13 IST Virender Sehwag reiterated in belief in 5-day Tests during the BCCI Awards on Sunday night (Reuters) HIGHLIGHTS 'Char din ki sirf chandni hi hoti hai...Test cricket nahin': Virender Sehwag I captained India in its first T20 game and I am proud of that: Sehwag Test cricket is a 143-year old fit person: Sehwag
Former India opener Virender Sehwag has joined Indian captain Virat Kohli in throwing his support behind the traditional 5-day Tests in the backdrop of ICC's recent proposal to trim the longest format by a day. While delivering the seventh Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi Lecture at the BCCI Awards on Sunday night, Sehwag conceded that while he was always supportive of 'change', 5-day Tests for him are a 'romance' and shouldn't be tinkered with.
"I have always supported change. I captained India in its first T20 game and I am proud of that. I was also part of India’s World T20 winning team in 2007. But five-day Test cricket is romance, said Sehwag.
"Innovations like names in jerseys and pink ball Tests are fine. But diaper and five-day Tests should only be changed when it's finished, when it can’t be used anymore. Five-day Test is not finished. Test cricket is a 143-year old fit person. It has a soul. ' Char din ki sirf chandni hi hoti hai....Test cricket nahin ' (four days of moon is fine, not Test cricket)," added Sehwag.
Sehwag thus echoed similar sentiments as that of Kohli, India head coach Ravi Shastri, Rohit Sharma and other prominent cricketers around the world.
"According to me, it should not be altered. As I said, the day-night is another step towards commercializing Test cricket and you know, creating excitement around it, but it can't be tinkered with too much. I don't believe so. You know the Day-Night Test is the most that should be changed about Test cricket, according to me." Kohli had said earlier this month.
"If it is a four-day, it is not a Test match. Four-day means a first-class match. It is as simple as that," Rohit had said when asked about ICC's proposal.
While Cricket Australia and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have said they would not refrain from considering the possibility of 4-day Tests, BCCI boss Sourav Ganguly said it's too early to talk about the proposal. 4-day Tests | Not in favour of 4-day Tests: Virat Kohli on ICC's new proposal For sports news , updates, live scores and cricket fixtures , log on to indiatoday.in/sports . Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for Sports news, scores and updates. Get real-time alerts and all the news on your phone with the all-new India Today app. Download from Do You Like This Story? Awesome!
