Bengaluru’s
M Chinnaswamy stadium will look to welcome a full capacity crowd when India
take on Sri Lanka in the day-night pink-ball Test on Saturday. The Karnataka
State Cricket Association (KSCA) decided to welcome fans for the India-Sri
Lanka second Test, a statement from the state board reads. It was previously decided
that only 50 % of fans would be allowed.

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“Considering
the high volume of response and since there are no further restrictions for
spectators, KSCA will be opening up sale of tickets for full capacity of the
stadium,” said the KSCA in an official statement.

The
high demand for tickets forced the state board to seek permission from the
state government for allowing full capacity attendance, according to
ESPNCricinfo. The second Test, which is the last match of the series, will be
played from March 12 to 16.

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The
Test match will be the first international fixture at M Chinnaswamy stadium
since the third ODI between India and Australia on January 19, 2020. It is also
the first Test match to be played at the venue since Afghanistan’s first-ever
Test match was played against India on January 14 and 15, 2018.

The
stadium was initially scheduled to host the first Test, which would have marked
former Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli’s 100th Test match.
However, it was then decided as the venue for the second Test to facilitate a
direct flight back home for Sri Lanka.

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This
will be India’s third pink-ball Test. The previous matches were played in
Kolkata against Bangladesh (November 2019) and Ahmedabad against England (February 2021). India won both those Tests inside three days.

Weather
conditions

The
ball is expected to behave differently in the final session, which will be
played in the night. While it is predicted that the first session will be good
to bat, with the sun going down, fast bowlers may get assistance.

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Think
pink-ball Test and one of the first things that come to mind is the dew factor.
In places where dew sets in the late evening, it is a struggle for bowlers to
grip the ball, while the batsmen have to contend with less bounce and the
skidding ball.

But
given the conditions in Bengaluru, especially during this time of the year, the
dew factor could well be neutralised. For one, the southern city is situated
3,000 feet above sea level, which means the humidity level is low. Heading into
summer, the dew formation occurs late in the night, thus, taking the factor out
of the equation.