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Rain delayed cricket on the opening day of the first Test between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru on Wednesday. The first two sessions were fully washed out at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium with covers making their presence felt throughout. Not long after, as heavy rain returned, the umpires decided to call play off for good.
Heavy showers and then a constant drizzle kept the ground covered until the scheduled tea break (2:10pm IST).Rain is also in the offing for the second day of the Bengaluru Test.
Preparations for the first of the three-Test series were also hit by the weather, which caused training session for both teams to be cancelled on Tuesday.
As the second session was wiped out, former India keeper-turned-commentator Saba Karim said on air that the Hawk-Eye technology formatting needs to happen with the covers removed. It eventually played a role in the officials deciding to call play off early.
The Hawk-Eye technology formatting usually happens on the eve of a game but since the surface was covered on Tuesday, that procedure was due to take place on Wednesday. Karim added that it takes about one-and-a-half hours, which suggested that even if the rain stopped after the Tea break, players could be held up until the process was complete.
Rohit Sharma-led India are firm favourites at home and come in fresh from a 2-0 sweep of Bangladesh.
New Zealand, who will be without injured Kane Williamson for at least the first match, lost both Tests in Sri Lanka last month.
Tim Southee stepped down as captain after Sri Lanka swept the series 2-0, with Tom Latham taking full-time charge for the first time.
The second Test begins in Pune on October 24 and the third is in Mumbai from November 1.
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