BENGALURU: It was a damp start to the landmark 25th Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here, with the opening day of the first Test between India and New Zealand being abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain on Wednesday.
There was always a cloud of uncertainty over the start of play, with the India Meteorological Department having issued an orange alert for the city.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), which is celebrating its golden jubilee this year, would have hoped for better weather. The venue hosted its first Test match in 1974, when a Clive Lloyd-led West Indies tamed Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and his men by a massive 267 runs.
Rain could well have the last laugh in the 25th Test here since more of it is predicated over the next two days. Despite the gloomy forecast, a handful of optimists made their way to the stadium, perhaps banking heavily on the city’s fickle weather.
However, all they saw was the covers being briefly lifted and glimpses of the likes of Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nitesh Reddy and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. The Indian trio were among the home team players who spent time in the indoor nets at the adjoining National Cricket Academy facility.
The Black Caps arrived at the venue at around 8 am but with no sign of the weather improving, they returned to their hotel. They may have felt a sense of déjà vu since their previous match against Afghanistan in Noida last month was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Ironically, a few minutes after play was called off at around 2.30 pm, rain stopped and the light improved prompting ground staff to take the covers off the pitch for the first time in the day.
Skipper Rohit Sharma, who was at the NCA, hopped across and had a good look at the pitch before another spell of rain forced it under covers. The toss has been scheduled for 8.45 am on Thursday with play at 9.15 am, but given the prevailing conditions, it seems like a distant possibility.