India Vs New Zealand 1st Test: Day 1 of the India vs New Zealand 1st Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru has been called off due to rain. Not a single ball was bowled on the opening day with the captains not even walking out for the toss which will now take place at 08:45 am (Indian Standard Time) on Day 2 with the play scheduled to commence at 09:15 am.
While the stadium boasts of one of the world's best drainage facilities, it is being learnt that the broadcasters needed around 90 minutes of time for the hawk-eye to be formatted after the covers are taken off from the main pitch. With the covers not off till 02:30 and still drizzle coming on and off in Bengaluru, the umpires deemed it best to call off the day.
Bengaluru Placed Under 'Orange Alert' By IMD
While Day 1 has been called off, it is pertinent to note that Bengaluru has been placed under 'Orange Alert' by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) with the city expected to receive heavy rainfall for the next two days. With the weather not looking promising, India might have to adopt a similar approach to the one they adopted at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur against Bangladesh where they won despite losing more than two days to rain and bad light.
Having said that, it will be a different ball game altogether with New Zealand's attack far more suited to overcast conditions than Bangladesh. India had won the toss and elected to field first in Kanpur and with the toss likely to happen on Day 2, it would be interesting to see if the captain who wins the toss takes opts to bowl first on Wendesday (October 16).