New Zealand’s Test series in India has now seen six consecutive days without any actual play, following a rainy week that has disrupted cricketing activities. The first day of the much-anticipated Test in Bengaluru was a washout, continuing the trend set by their earlier misadventure in Greater Noida.
Bengaluru’s weather initially offered some optimism, as the heavy rain forecast had mostly missed the city. However, light drizzles persisted throughout the morning, leading to a substantial downpour around 2:30 PM that dashed all hopes of a toss or play on day one. With the Test now likely to span four days or fewer, teams will need to lead by 150 runs instead of the usual 200 to enforce a follow-on.
Despite the M Chinnaswamy Stadium’s advanced sub-air drainage system, capable of draining an impressive 10,000 liters of water per minute, the rain the day prior had also delayed crucial preparations. The necessary Hawk-Eye formatting, which takes about an hour and a half, could not be completed due to the wet conditions.
Looking ahead, officials have scheduled play to start 15 minutes early and end 15 minutes late on the remaining days, allowing for 98 overs daily. They may also add an extra half-hour to make up for slow over rates, but rain continues to threaten play for the next day as well.
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