On the eve of the first Test at M.Chinnasawamy Stadium, Bengaluru, the practice session was washed out due to rain. The weather forecast for October 16 and the upcoming days does not look promising either and Rohit Sharma’s India may have to tweak their plans and approach like they did against Bangladesh in Kanpur if they are to start the series with a win.
While in Kanpur there was no play for two and a half days due to rain and wet outfield, Chinnaswamy Stadium boasts of arguably the best drainage system in the country. If the rain in Bengaluru is not incessant, play can resume without much delay as it has sub-air dranage and aeration system.
Weather forecast on Day 1, October 16
It has been drizzling in Bengaluru since morning of October 16. The overcast conditions will remain in Bengaluru throughout the day and rain will get heavier as the day progresses. Toss is unlikely to take place at the designated time on Day 1. The chances of play on Day 1 are bleak.
Orange alert in Bengaluru
There is an orange alert in Bengaluru and the government has ordered schools to shut and advised companies to allow their employees to work from home as water-logging has affected transport as well.
Injury updates
Ben Sears has been ruled out of the series due to a knee injury. He has been replaced by Jacob Duffy. Meanwhile, Sports Tak learned that Shubman Gill complained of pain in shoulder and neck to the team management on October 14. A call on his availability will be taken before the coin toss.
Squads:
India: Rohit Sharma(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Tom Latham (c), Will Young, Kane Williamson, Michael Bracewell, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Tom Blundell (wk), Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Ajaz Patel, William ORourke
