Bengaluru
Continuous heavy rain on Tuesday morning forced the cancellation of the Indian cricket team’s practice session ahead of their opening Test against New Zealand. The training, set for 11:15 am, was called off as the downpour showed no signs of stopping. New Zealand’s session, scheduled for 1:30 pm, is also likely to be affected by the bad weather.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall for the entire week, with a 70 to 90 percent chance of rain during the first two days of the Test match. Additionally, a yellow alert has been issued in various regions across Karnataka, indicating possible disruptions in the game.
Weather-related challenges are not new for both teams. India’s previous home Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur was cut short due to rain, though they managed to secure a win. New Zealand also encountered weather issues on their tour of the subcontinent, with a non-WTC Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida being called off due to bad weather and inadequate drainage.
India enters this Test series on a high note, having won 2-0 against Bangladesh, and currently leads the World Test Championship (WTC) standings. Meanwhile, New Zealand, the 2021 WTC winners, come into this match after a 2-0 defeat in Sri Lanka and sit in sixth place on the WTC table.
