Bengaluru: The start of the first Test between India and New Zealand has been delayed due to persistent rain, with the square still under covers and a gloomy forecast ahead.
However, thanks to the ground’s advanced subsurface aeration system, play is expected to resume quickly once the rain stops.
India may need to summon the same resilience they displayed in Kanpur, where they crushed Bangladesh despite losing nearly three days to rain.
Sitting comfortably atop the World Test Championship (WTC) table, India are preparing with one eye on the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but the rain in Bengaluru threatens to make this series another test of their adaptability.
For New Zealand, this match marks the culmination of a difficult two-month Asian tour. After a complete washout against Afghanistan and a series defeat in Sri Lanka, they arrive in Bengaluru without key player Kane Williamson.
The Blackcaps face a daunting task, as no touring team has breached India's fortress in over a decade.