New Zealand’s hopes of playing cricket in India were once again dashed as rain interrupted the first day of the Test match in Bengaluru. This marks the sixth consecutive day of Test cricket in India without any actual play for the Kiwis. Despite the city waking up to optimistic news of avoiding apocalyptic rain, a drizzle continued throughout the day, eventually leading to a downpour at 2.30pm, forcing the abandonment of play.
With the match now reduced to a four-day Test, teams looking to enforce a follow-on will need to lead by 150 runs instead of the standard 200. The M Chinnaswamy Stadium, despite having a sub-air drainage system capable of draining 10000 litres of water per minute, was unable to combat the heavy rain that had fallen in the lead-up to the match.
One obstacle faced was the inability to complete the Hawk-Eye formatting due to the rain on the previous day. This process typically takes an hour and a half to complete. The authorities are hopeful that the formatting can be done before the second day of play, although rain is forecasted to impact the match once again.
To make up for lost time, play will begin 15 minutes early on the remaining four days and end 15 minutes late to ensure that 98 overs are bowled each day. Additionally, an extra half an hour can be added to compensate for any slow over-rates that may occur during the match.
Despite the disappointment of the rain interruption, players and fans alike are eager to see some action on the field as soon as possible. Both teams will be looking to make the most of the remaining days of the Test match and showcase their skills in what promises to be an exciting contest between New Zealand and India. Let’s hope for clearer skies and uninterrupted play in the days to come.