India and Bangladesh will face off in a historic match tomorrow at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. It's historic as this will be the first day-night test match India and Bangladesh will play. What's more interesting, is that this will also be the first time these teams use a pink ball instead of the traditional cherry-red ball used in test matches.

The stage is set and everyone is now waiting for the pink ball to set rolling. But before that let's take a look at how these balls are made. SG which is a Meerut-based sports manufacturer is solely responsible for delivering the match balls.

The BCCI has asked the company to deliver a batch of six dozen pink ball in the first week of November itself. The balls are manufactured in their factory situated at the outskirts of Meerut.

While the ball is made the same way as a regular red or a white ball. The different coloured leather means there are a few challenges for the makers. Moreover, this will be the first time SG pink balls will be used for a test match. The last time when such balls were used, SG received a lot of flak as it had lost its shape and shine quickly and offered very little to the bowlers.

However, this time the balls are expected to last better as they have a handstitched seam which help retain its shape longer. The ball is also designed in such a way that it stays hard for 50-60 overs and can benefit both pacers as well as spinners.

First Published:Nov 21, 2019 10:48 PM IST