'Why not take up the pink challenge?'

India's reluctance to play a day-night Test on their next tour of Australia has surprised spinner Harbhajan Singh, who remains convinced that Virat Kohli's team are skilled enough to conquer the challenges of pink-ball cricket.

India have shot down a proposal to play what could have been their maiden day-night Test in Adelaide in December, worried that their inexperience in the conditions could hamper their bid for a rare series win in Australia.

"I don't know why they don't want to play day-night Test matches," Harbhajan, India's third highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, told reporters.

"It's an interesting format and we should try it. I am all for it. Tell me what's the apprehension of playing with pink ball? If you play, you can adjust. It may not be as difficult as it seems."

Harbhajan felt the board may have underestimated the skills of their own players.

"We have fast bowlers to trouble them. And what makes us think our batsmen can't take up the challenge of facing Aussie pacers?" asked the 37-year-old, who played the last of his 103 Tests in 2015.