Bengaluru: The first day of the 1st Test between India and New Zealand at Bengaluru was washed out due to persistent rain.
Unusually cold and murky weather, which has gripped the city for the past few days, led to no play being possible, much to the disappointment of cricket fans.
Despite efforts by the ground staff, who worked tirelessly to remove the covers and prepare the pitch, conditions remained unplayable.
The morning showed some promise, but by 14:30 local time, the inevitable decision was made to call off play as heavy rain persisted. With the curator not having had a chance to assess the pitch for three days due to the downpour, the delay was extended further.
In an effort to make up for the lost time, officials have announced revised session timings for Day 2, which will begin with the morning session starting at 9:15 AM and concluding at 11:30 AM. This will be followed by the afternoon session from 12:10 PM to 2:25 PM, and the evening session from 2:45 PM to 4:45 PM.
As for the pitch, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma was seen inspecting the conditions after stumps. Some grass was sprinkled over damp patches in an attempt to recover the surface.
Hopefully, clearer weather will allow play to resume on Day 2.