2:34pm And that is that for today. The opening day of the India-New Zealand Test series has been called off. The persistent drizzle, with its stop-start nature, has meant that there is just not enough time for the ground to be ready today. Plus it has started raining properly now, Ashish adds.
The drainage system would have enabled play to start after about an hour once the rain stops. But the Hawk-Eye installation for the DRS would also need about 90 minutes. So the call was taken to call off the day. The downpour only justifying the call.
A 15-minute early start tomorrow, 15 minutes being added to each of the first and the second sessions, 98 overs to bowled. But the forecast for Thursday is not all too promising for now. Hopefully that changes overnight. Who knows. But do join us nice and early for all the updates. On behalf of Sidharth and Chandan, it's a goodbye from Sudarshanan. Ciao, take care!
2:32pm Ashish tells me that the drizzle has returned and it has become very dark overhead.
2:19pm Ashish adds, sipping his hot tea, "There's a single cover remaining on the main pitch and two at the bowler's area. The umpires have had a look and have gone back. The areas either side of the main playing surface looks really damp. They are bringing a few Hessians to cover that."
dk: "Is it mandatory to have the hawk eye? Drs depends on it. Am I right?" Correct
Ian: "Now 17 consecutive sessions of Test cricket New Zealand has lost to rain in India."
2:11pm The rain has stopped even as clock has ticked to tea time. Two sessions fully washed out, as a result. Saba Karim on air says that the Hawk-Eye formatting needs to happen after the covers are removed. That generally happens on the eve of the game but since the surface was under covers from yesterday, that procedure is yet to happen. And it takes about one and a half hours, Karim adds. So unlikely to see any action right now
2.05pm Enough with the bad news. Ashish has suddenly got excited as he sends this update: "The rain relents again. And out come the ground staff. They are working on the main cover. Yep, off come the big main cover. They are basically letting all the water collected on the cover back onto the outfield to let the subair system do its thing. The two umpires are also out in the middle. This is the most activity that has happened on the ground since morning."
It is going to be tea in five minutes. Suds will bring you more of this excitement soon.
2pm Quite the tease. Here is Ashish with the disappointing news.
"Aaaaand the mizzle is back. Covers being put back in their place. There is a thick band of cloud right over head at Chinnaswamy, which is causing the major issue. Ground staff going back. So much for the enthusiasm. I'll go for that coffee now."
Utpaul : "Just finished reading the story on C D Gopinath and the mind went back to late fifties or early sixties. Memory faded with age so can't recall the exact years, however, what is fresh in mind is excitement that creeped into the commentators voice and the rise in noise level going up among the spectators signalling their excitement as soon as Gopinath walked. I was too young to understand much of cricket but I too would get excited"
shishank dahiya: "Had it been Greater Noida or Kanpur play would have been called off for 3 days by now, considering how much it has rained"
1.50pm More cheer at the ground.
"Ground staff making their way out to the middle which brings about a lot of enthusiasm from the crowd," Ashish says. "They've started removing the two covers around the long-off, long-on region. Lots of water underneath as expected, but that's where the sub-air system will do its magic."
1.45pm Some bit of action to revive Ashish. "A little bit of activity," he says. "The rain has stopped for the moment. A few officials are out there having a chat, and for the first time today, the two umpires Paul Reiffel and Michael Gough are making their way out to the middle. They are having a chat with the officials right about now."
1.30pm Ashish is losing enthusiasm and will to live. "Nothing to add to the update from before. It's hardly raining, barely spitting. But the covers are firmly in place. The crowd has also started dispersing a bit."
Maybe he needs to go down to Adiga's and get a filter coffee.
Sham G: "If it makes you feel better, today's washout increases chances of play on weekends."
1.10pm How ya doin'?
Ashish is nnot very happy. His latest from Chinnaswamy: "A very very light drizzle has returned at Chinnaswamy and that means no ground staff activity has started as yet. It's that very irritating mizzle which won't bother anyone if play was on. But then again, enough to not have any mop up activities start. There is also a thick band of cloud overhead."
1pm Not much positive to report from Bengaluru, as the drizzle continues. Sidharth will take over the weather watch for the next hour or so.
12:55pm Recently, Alagappan Muthu, who covered the India vs Bangladesh Tests from the venues, visited India's oldest living Test cricketer CD Gopinath and had a detailed chat. The story on the cricketer who played the game because it was fun is up now. Do give it a read!
Vamsi: "It's alright, I now have the confidence India will make a match out of it even if the first three days get washed out." Especially since the Kanpur heist was just last game
12:40pm Ashish went for a stroll outside the press box: "It's stopped raining. The umbrellas are down and while it's still cloudy overhead, some positive signs. A few officials are out having a chat. No activity yet on the covers though. The crowd is up and about in excitement. Lots of whistles and hooting."
12:10pm Here's Ashish: "The second session should have begun, but the #Bengalururains are not letting that happen any time soon. There is a mild but steady drizzle. Absolutely no work happening on the outfield. A fair bit of crowd has turned up. But the enthusiasm seems to have died down despite the DJ trying to rev up the crowd with some music. The forecast is expected to improve post 1pm, so we wait."
Shubham: "Over the years, have seen so many such days in B'lore where it doesn't rain heavily but continues to spit/drizzle mildly through the day!!!" Today, too, a lot of the times the drizzle/mizzle was such that play would prolly not have stopped had it been already underway
11:30am The opening session has been washed out as it is lunch time. The incessant light drizzle continues in Bengaluru. Forecast is said to be better in the afternoon, so we continue to keep fingers crossed
Ananthamurthy : "We cricket lovers are rather selfish people because there have been special prayers for the rains we're witnessing and here we are, hoping for the rain to stop ! Hope it will, btw !!!"
Madhusudan: "Do we have the complete ground covered, else I don't see any match happening today even if the rain stops now, as there would be a wet outfield." The outfield is not covered, only the pitch and the areas close are. Word is that if and when rain relents, play can start in about 45 mins or so thanks to the superb drainage at the M Chinnaswamy
Dashmeet: "One question : Does the team be modified incase of toss delay? Incase of rain, a captain might want to swap some players looking at modified condition. Is that possible? Has it happened in past?" since the toss has not yet taken place, teams can play whatever XI they want when it starts
11.15am More excitement from Ashish but not the kind we are hoping for: "The crowd has woken from its slumber and erupts as Kohli makes his way from the indoor nets at the NCA back to the dressing room. He has Jaiswal with him. No respite from the steady drizzle though."
With that I hand over the important job of watching the rain to Suds.
10.55am A bit of a tease from the Bangalore weather. Here is Ashish summing up the excitement from the last half hour: "Was just about to report that rain has stopped, officials are having a chat, umbrellas are down, the crowd is building up. And immediately after the drizzle has picked up again."
So we wait.
10.25am More good news. It is down to a very slight drizzle, says Ashish Pant. He doesn't see much activity on the covers yet. They are possibly waiting for it to stop raining completely.
"A lot more fans have made their way to the ground," Ashish says. "Suspect some 500-600 odd there. It is down to a very mild drizzle now. If play was actually on, players wouldn't have bothered to go off. But I can see the weather clearing up on the far side. So, hope for some play in the afternoon."
10.10am How ya doin'? It is still dirzzling but the forecast is better for the afternoon. All thanks to the low pressure area skirting Bangalore and not actually hitting the city. Let's hope there is play soon.
9:50am Not much to report still. Rain, covers and the usual jazz :p
Sidharth Monga is all set with his cup of coffee for some rain watch
Maybe it's too soon to talk about IPL auction but that's not the case for hockey. The Hockey India League concluded its massive three-day auction with the best players finding their way into eight men's and four women's teams. Here's a detailed SWOT analysis.
james: "New Zealand might genuinely be cursed in this country, a full 5 day test washed out and a possibility of another test with limited play"
Anjan: "If this game is going to wash, I might as well watch Pak vs Eng game." You can follow it LIVE on ESPNcricinfo also
shishank dahiya: "It's nice to see Ashish on the ground instead of Daya! When Daya was in Kanpur and Greater Noida, it was like he had a personal rain cloud following him around. I was half-expecting him to start charging for wet field updates"
A reminder that you can also follow updates from this match LIVE in Hindi also, with Daya Sagar on the wheel
9:30am Ashish: "Down to a drizzle now. But no activity on the outfield. A handful of fans (around 50 odd) have braved the rains and come."
Manu: "I planned to work from Stadium, but my manager's wishes seem to be winning. My office is next to Chinnaswamy stadium and it is raining"
9:20am New Zealand's Tim Southee has had a few happening weeks. He was their Test captain after Kane Williamson stepped down in 2022. Southee led NZ to six wins, six losses and two draws. But after their 0-2 drubbing in Sri Lanka, he stepped down from captaincy and now, his spot in the XI lies in the balance. He is 15 away from 400 Test wickets but averages 73.12 with the ball this year. He admitted to searching for his 'snap' ahead of this series.
And on the other side of the spectrum is a 6'4" tall fast bowler William O'Rourke, who began his Test career with a five-for against South Africa. In four Tests, he already has two five-wicket hauls. He had the ability to bowl the magic ball, but did he get ready for the grind of Test cricket? Deivarayan Muthu spoke to Peter Fulton and Brendon Donkers to get us the story
Ashish also wrote on the spin challenges New Zealand have faced in recent times with the bat
9:13am Ashish says that the intensity of rain has increased now
9:10am Let's move our attention to a few players now. One of the hot topics of this Indian season has been about the fitness and availability of Mohammed Shami. He last was in action at the ODI World Cup last year and was sidelines by an Achilles tendon injury. He underwent surgery earlier in the year and he was meant to return to action around the New Zealand series. But his recent setback where he developed a swelling on his knee as pushed his return back. Rohit Sharma also spoke very highly of his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has had a stupendous start to his Test career.
8:58am Official news is that toss has been delayed due to rain. Umpires are seen having conversations with a member of the Indian team management. I don't think the teams have arrived at the ground yet.
8:50am When I think of New Zealand in India, mind always goes back to the sweeping exhibition that Tom Latham put on in an ODI at the Wankhede - in the company of Ross Taylor. But that hasn't necessarily been the case in Tests, where New Zealand have not won a match in India since 1988. They held on to a fighting draw in Kanpur last time around. Latham, now New Zealand's Test captain, hopes to lean on past experiences and is hoping that the Bengaluru weather allows their seamers to come into the game.
Key allrounder Rachin Ravindra also believes in sticking to what works for New Zealand as a team. They are coming into this series on the back of a 2-0 loss in Sri Lanka. They also have to contend with an injury - uncapped Jacob Duffy replacing Ben Sears.
Anuraag: "As a Bangalorean I can confirm that this rain is here to stay for the better part of the first 2 days. Videos of landslides around the city have been going viral, all thanks to the depression caused by the Cyclone that's currently careening across the Bay of Bengal."
Prakash: "Trying to follow this much-awaited series from New York. Need to make a call on when to go to bed. It is 11:30 pm now. Please advise. " For now safe to sleep, I suppose, because unlikely to have an on-time start
Srinivas: "Not to dampen any spirits, all schools in Bangalore have been declared a holiday today in anticipation of heavy rain."
8:40am When India started their home season, they needed seven wins in the remaining ten Tests in order to make to put their third WTC final spot beyond doubt. Even five wins would suffice in certain scenarios, notes Sidharth Monga in the preview. Which is why this wet weather could come as a dampener for India, with five Tests lined up in Australia.
This home season has also been about India wanting to shift from primarily a batting team to an equally good bowling one. Maybe not so much in pure skill or perception but more so in the thought and functionality. Gautam Gambhir spoke about it a couple of days ago. Rohit Sharma yesterday added to it by speaking about expanding India's fast-bowling strength
8:35am "Covers firmly in place," says Ashish. "They have been in place since yesterday morning with the rain showing no signs of relenting. But despite the water logging all over Bengaluru, there are no puddles on outfield whatsoever with the Chinnaswamy drainage system working its magic."
8:30am A Test match morning smells different. The aroma of anticipation, the fragrance of fierce battles, the scent of some engrossing cricket - all of it just gets you all pumped up, isn't it? Especially on the first day of a new Test series. In Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy stadium, it could be all of the above with a dash of petrichor or a bit of mustiness. Because, it is not good news for now.
Our man Ashish Pant has had a long travel and is now at the Chinnaswamy and says, "Morning, it's pelting down here in Bengaluru. Steady rain since around 7am and it is picking up. Traffic jams have already lined up. Looks like it will be a while before we can get any play started."
