IND vs NZ, 1st Test Day 2 Bengaluru M Chinnaswamy Stadium Highlights: New Zealand On Top With 134-run Lead, Reach 180-3 In 1st Innings

New Zealand reached 180/3 in 50 overs with Rachin Ravindra (22) and Daryl Mitchell (14) at the crease. They have taken a 134-run lead after bowling India out for 46 runs. 

The players are back on the field. The excellent drainage system in Bengaluru will come in handy on a stop-start day. 

The lunch has been pushed to 12:00 p.m. IST 

The second session will be from 12:40 pm to 2:55 pm IST.

The third session will be from 3:15 pm to 5:15 pm IST. 

Anil Kumble predicts a few more spells of showers throughout the day. 

The rain seems to have stopped. The umpires have gone to the field to inspect. The groundstaff are working towards removing the covers. But it remains overcast. Anil Kumble, the local boy, said the conditions will remain overcast throughout the day and it will not be bright sunshine. More trouble for India? 

While the game is underway, the floodlights are on and the ball is doing some mischief early on. 

India captain Rohit Sharma has won the toss and opted to bat first. 

Dinesh Karthik gives us updates from the ground. ,

Looks good to go

How excited are we ???#INDvsNZ #weatherman#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/l4kD8xBSPB, — DK (@DineshKarthik) October 17, 2024

The update from the center is that the toss will take place on time at 8:45 a.m. and the match will begin at 9:15 a.m. No rain for now. 

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the second day of the first Test match between India and New Zealand, which is being held at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru. 

The toss will take place at 8:45 a.m. tomorrow with the game starting at 9:15 a.m. ,

Update from Bengaluru

Day 1 of the 1st #INDvNZ Test has been called off due to rain.

Toss to take place at 8:45 AM IST on Day 2

Start of Play: 9:15 AM IST #TeamIndia | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/RzmBvduPqr, — BCCI (@BCCI) October 16, 2024

Well, here's what commentator Harsha Bhogle thinks about the chances of play getting underway today. ,

Sadly, it looks like we might be done for the day. They have put a lot of hessian on the adjacent pitch which was dark. But now the big covers are back on again. The pitch hasn't yet been rolled because of the rain since yesterday so it will take longer once the covers are…, — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 16, 2024

Former India selector Saba Karim explains that the Hawkeye tecknology needs one hour to format and rain needs to be away for an hour. The nagging drizzle continues. The groundstaff are having a look at the outfield and area near the pitch. There are some wet patches around the pitch. 

"Brown spots that are slightly softer," says Anil Kumble describing the areas. 

Its unliklely that play will begin anytime soon. 

The rain, drizzle to be precise, is playing hide and seek. The enthusiasm in the crowd has dipped. For a brief moment, there was hope that play might start soon. However, the rain has returned and so have the covers. The groundstaff, who attempted to begin work on the outfield have gone back. 

The wait continues...

And we are close to tea time, which means the first two sessions on Day 1 have been washed out. 

Finally we have some good news from the Chinaswamy stadium. The covers are slowly getting taken off and we could get some match action after all. 

“To be honest, right now, it’s pretty difficult for us to make a call on him, whether he’ll be fit for this series or Australia series. He recently had swelling on his knee, which was quite unusual.” 

“He was in the process of getting fit, getting close to 100 per cent, he had swelling in his knee, that put him back a little bit in his recovery. So, he had to start again. Right now, he’s at NCA, he’s working with the physios and the doctors at NCA,” he told reporters in the pre-match press conference. 

Okay, some bad news from the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru. After a brief spell of no rain, aslight drizzle has returned. The covers are firmly in place shielding the pitch. The groundstaff's bid to begin work during the outfield has been stalled. 

Expect more delay on Day 1. We are heading towards losing another session after the first session was entirely washed out. 

Begaluru crowd erupts with Virat Kohli chants at Chinaswammy stadium. ,

Huge cheer for @imVkohli from the Bengaluru crowd as he walks past the stands with @ybj_19. #ViratKohli • #INDvNZ • #ViratGang pic.twitter.com/0H8q0nk1UP, — ViratGang.in (@ViratGangIN) October 16, 2024

There is some good news from Bengaluru. The rain has come to a standstill and the ground staff have done their initial check. There are still some black clouds hovering around but a bit of optimism for the cricket fans. 

The focus is on the incessant rain, the uncertainty surrounding the pitch conditions and the confident demeanour of the Indian team. The city has been experiencing incessant rain, raising concerns about the pitch conditions. The mysteries of the 22 yards remain shrouded under a blue tarpaulin sheet. 

India's reliance on spin-friendly pitches has decreased significantly in recent years. The era of Ravi Shastri as coach saw greater emphasis on spin-friendly pitches. The circumstances were different at the start of the Ravi Shastri era, with India's fast bowling attack still developing. Under Rahul Dravid, spin-friendly pitches were not the default tactic, but a standby option. India has veered away from spin-friendly pitches in recent times, with the exception of Hyderabad. 

The focus is on the New Zealand team's challenges, including the weather, injuries and recent losses. Tom Latham finds the weather in Bengaluru similar to his hometown Christchurch. 

The waiting game continues as the players walk around amid the relentless drizzle at M Chinnaswamy stadium. Its lunchtime and the rain remain persistent. Hoepfully some positive news might come soon. 

New Zealand Squad: Devon Conway, Tom Latham(c), Will Young, Kane Williamson, Michael Bracewell, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Tom Blundell(w), Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Ajaz Patel, William ORourke

India Squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep

We are in for more delays as it contiues to pour in Bengaluru. ,

11.00 AM Update: Test Cricket Start could be further Delayed

It's drizzling continuously in Bengaluru without any letup.
Match start already delayed. Likely to face further delay.

Rolling Camera from North to North East.
The ground is 15Kms North from my place.… pic.twitter.com/yizAyynlBC, — Namma Karnataka Weather (@namma_vjy) October 16, 2024

The Chinnaswamy wicket has been known to aid the batters in the past. Recent showers though, are likely to bring in pacers into the game. 

Chinnaswamy stadium is known for having the best drainage system in the country. The state-of-the-art sub-surface aeration and vacuum-powered drainage system, introduced in 2017, can remove water at a rate of10,000l pr minute. 

The sub-air system can prepare the ground for play just 15 minutes after the rain stops, no matter how heavy it has been. 

India captain Rohit Sharma, star batter Virat Kohli and all-rounder R Ashwin are on the brink of major milestones as India take on New Zealand in the first Test on Wednesday, October 16 at M Chinaswamy stadium, Bengaluru. 

Saba Karim on Jio Cinema informs that the rain has slowed down, but it continues to drizzle. We could get more clarity in some time now. 

As it continues to rain at M Chinmnaswamy stadium, the Indian and New Zealand players have started training indoors. 

The fans also continue to wait outside the stadium with their umbrellas out. Meanwhile, the rain show no signs of stopping. ,

Raining so badly here in Bengaluru
Fans are still waiting outside the stadium gate here to get entry inside the Chinnaswamy Stadium at 9.24 am...

...when the toss itself was supposed to happen at 9am! #INDvNZ #IndVsNZ pic.twitter.com/GxRFSBzJ50, — Santhosh 🇨🇭🇮🇳 (@Santh_GVA) October 16, 2024

Saba Karim on the broadcast says that the drizzling has stopped. He also hailed the drainage system of the M Chinnaswamy stadium and said that the match could start 45 minutes after the rain stops. 

Heavy rains persist in Bengaluru:,

A wet start to Day 1 in Bengaluru. Heavy rain around M Chinnaswamy Stadium means the toss will be delayed until further notice #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/eowepdeila, — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) October 16, 2024

Here's the official update from the BCCI:,

Hello from Bengaluru

Toss for the 1st #INDvNZ Test has been delayed due to rain.

Stay tuned for further updates.#TeamIndia | @IDFCFIRSTBank, — BCCI (@BCCI) October 16, 2024

Good news! while the conditions remain overcast, the covers are slowly coming off at the Chinnaswamy stadium. The toss could be delayed but we should get some action in some time. Fingers crossed!

One of the biggest relief points for the fans will be the Chinnaswamy stadium drainage system. Considered to be one of the best ones in the whole world, the system could come in clutch on Wednesday. Here's a video of how it works:,

Chinnaswamy Stadium has the best sub-air drainage and aeration system in the world♥️

Let's hope for the best#RCBvCSK #CSKvRCB #RCBvsCSK @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/cj5h4WIfkf, — Ⓤನೌನ್_ಮಂದಿ (@unknown_trio) May 17, 2024

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the weather live blog of the first Test match between India and New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru. The first Test match will begin from October 16, Wednesday.