Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag. Credits: PTI

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has given his opinion on the ongoing four-day vs five day Tests discussion. ICC is considering to host four-day Test matches from 2023 Test Championship in order to get more time to host other tournaments. However, Sehwag believes five-day Test matches are still alive and it should not be tinkered with.

In fact, in his typical Sehwag way, the former attacking batsman said Diaper and five-day Test matches should be only changed when they are finished. Sehwag had delivered the seventh Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi Lecture at the BCCI Awards.

Ishant Sharma, Virat Kohli
Ishant Sharma with Virat Kohli (Credits: BCCI)

Four-Day Test matches have drawn criticism.

Sehwag believes that putting jersey numbers and organizing Pink ball Test matches to help grow the Test fold is fine. However, churning a five-day Test to four-day is not good for the pristine form of the game.

“Innovations like names in jerseys and pink ball Tests are fine. But diaper and five-day Tests should only be changed when it is finished when it can’t be used anymore. The 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 the moon is fine, not Test cricket),” Sehwag said.

Sehwag added that five-day Test matches are like romance. The former Indian opener had also led India in its maiden T20 match.

Read More  Not RCB!! It was Virat Kohli's idea to invite RCB Women to RCB Unbox event reveals Kate Cross

Test matches are like romance.

“I have always supported the 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,” Sehwag said while delivering the seventh Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi Lecture at the BCCI Awards.

On the other hand, players like Ben Stokes, Australia captain Tim Paine and Indian captain Virat Kohli have put their weight behind five-day Test matches which have been the norm of the red ball version.

Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag (Credits: Web)

“I don’t think that’s fair to the purest format of the game,” Kohli said when asked about four-day Tests.

“How cricket started initially, five-day Test matches was the highest test you can have at the international level. It shouldn’t be altered,” he went on to add.

It would be interesting to note ICC’s stand as the players across the globe have criticized the idea of four-day Test matches.

Cricket is my first love. I want to be a wordsmith. I want to weave magic with my words.