Bengaluru weather Highlights: Day 1 of 1st India-New Zealand Test called off due to rain

What time will the match start on Thursday? 

With an entire day’s play being washed out in Bengaluru due to rain, play on Day 2 of the first India-New Zealand Test on Thursday will begin 15 minutes early, that is, at 9.15 am IST, instead of the usual 9.30 am time. A total of 98 overs are set to be bowled on Thursday, that is of course, if the weather permits a full day’s play.

What is the weather like for Bengaluru on Day 2 (Thursday)? 

According to Weather.com, the forecast for Thursday does not look good either. Showers are expected on Thursday as well, with the highest possibility being a 38 per cent chance of rain at 1.30 pm IST. That increases to 46 per cent at 4.30 pm, when “scattered thunderstorms” have been forecast.

From the head-to-head record between the two nations to other statistics such as top run-getters and wicket-takers, we examine the India vs New Zealand rivalry through numbers.

Some good news for the thousands of fans who have turned up at the Chinnaswamy and for the millions tuning in on their TV sets, or following match updates online — covers are being taken off at the moment!

This after umpires Paul Reiffel and Michael Gough decided to step out to the middle and have a look.

It has stopped raining for now, and the players as well as fans will be hoping to get a glimpse of their heroes in action today.

Just when we thought the rain had finally subsided, raising our hopes of some cricketing action finally taking place today, a steady drizzle returns to the Chinnaswamy that ensures the covers stay put for now, according to Cricbuzz.

Stay tuned for more updates.

ICYMI: Ben Sears has been ruled out of the Test series against India after initially being named in the squad, after he complained of knee pain during the second Test against Sri Lanka and was later found to have suffered a tear to his meniscus.

The Black Caps have included Jacob Duffy as Sears’ replacement for the three-Test series that was supposed to get underway today in Bengaluru.

JUST IN: It has stopped raining in Bengaluru, according to reports. So long as it stays that way, the SubAir drainage system should do its thing and allow play to begin soon enough.

The umpires should be heading out for a quick look any time soon, and then we might get a word on the toss.

“He is a very calm guy. I have played under him for Mumbai Indians. He reads the game well and obviously well respected among the players. He is different from someone like Virat who is very passionate and well-respected for the way he plays.”

In an exclusive chat with Vimal Kumar for Firstpost, senior Black Caps pacer Tim Southee compares Rohit Sharma’s style of leadership with that of Virat Kohli, discusses why India is such a tough place to tour among other topics.

The second session was supposed to have started by now. Thanks to non-stop rain in Bengaluru that currently is a mild but steady drizzle, the two teams will remained confined to their respective dressing rooms.

As for today’s weather forecast, while it has been continuously raining since morning, there is a possibility that the weather might clear up later in the afternoon. According to Apple’s Weather app, it should stop raining from 3 pm although the cloud cover will remain for the rest of the evening.

Will the umpires wait that long before conducting the toss and signalling the start of play is something that remains to be seen.

Greater Noida. Galle. And now Bengaluru. The rain clouds just seem to be following the Black Caps

How things look at the Chinnaswamy at the moment:

Lunch has been taken on the opening day of the first Test between India and New Zealand, with Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium remaining under covers for now thanks to rain that has shown a decrease in intensity a couple of times, but has refused to go away.

Toss, meanwhile, is yet to take place.

A reminder from former India seamer Dodda Ganesh on the excellent drainage at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium and why not covering the entire ground shouldn’t be a worry.

Will rain play spoilsport in the first Test between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru the way it did in the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur, which would have ended in a draw had it not been for India’s remarkable performance in the last two days.

Click here to go through Bengaluru’s weather forecast for all five days of the first Test

Live visuals show Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal walking across the ground, presumably heading towards the indoor facilities at the Chinnaswamy in order to get some practice.

Incessant rain had, after all, led to the cancellation of India’s training session at the Chinnaswamy on the eve of the Test.

Doesn’t look great in Bengaluru at the moment

The big news from the M Chinnaswamy Stadium is that TOSS HAS BEEN DELAYED due to incessant rain in Bengaluru!

It has been pouring in the ‘Garden City’ since yesterday and with thunderstorms expected today, the two teams might end up spending more time in the dressing room than on the field today.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the opening day of the first Test between India and New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, with the Rohit Sharma-led hosts eyeing another strong start to a home Test series after defeating England 4-1 earlier this year and pulling off a 2-0 sweep against Bangladesh last month.

New Zealand, meanwhile, haven’t won a Test in India since 1988 and have never won a Test series in this part of the world, and will be hoping to change things around this time.