Gautam Gambhir has no discrimination between red and pink, says it's only the colour that has changed

The BCCI is using Duleep trophy as an experiment to check players' reaction to playing first-class cricket under lights with a pink ball.

New Delhi: Ahead of Duleep Trophy final, India Blue captain Gautam Gambhir on Thursday endorsed the pink ball, "saying it is only the colour of the ball that has changed, nothing else has changed."

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is using Duleep trophy as an experiment to check players' reaction to playing first-class cricket under lights with a pink ball.

"We have to be clear, it is only the colour of the ball that has changed, nothing else has changed," Gambhir told ESPNcricinfo from Delhi.

"It is a Kookaburra ball that behaves exactly the same way as a red ball or a white ball. People make so much fuss about the pink ball that it swings more or dips more, you can't pick the wristspinners and so on.

"I believe the more you think about it, the more complicated you make the game. It is far more visible in the day time as compared to the red ball because it is far more brighter. In the last two games that I have played, I have seen nothing different. The red ball and pink ball behave exactly in the same way," the former India opener added.

India Blue will face India Red, led by Yuvraj Singh, in the final in Greater Noida starting September 10. And some of the India Test regulars like Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja and three others have already been drafted to play in the final.

Interestingly, India's Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara on Monday raised a few concerns like "picking the googly", "spotting the seam" while batting against pink ball under lights during India Blue's game against India Green.

Pujara spent good time in the centre, scoring 166 off 280 balls for India Blue but shared his apprehensions about the pink ball.

"Even when I was facing spinners, it was very difficult to pick the googly, under lights. A little difficult to pick the seam on the pink ball," he said.

The Indian board is also checking the feasibility of playing a day-night Test match in India in the near future. Earlier, such a match was planned for the upcoming New Zealand series, only to be dismissed later.

In a hectic season, India will host New Zealand in a three Tests series in September and October, all starting 9:30 AM IST, and five ODIs.

New Zealand is the first of four teams - England, Australia and Bangladesh are the others - India are set to host in their 2016-17 home season, which comprises 13 Tests, eight ODIs and three T20Is.