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IND vs NZ: 1st Test, Day 1: Saba Karim explains how technological hurdle ruined chances of play (AP)
More rain is expected over the next few days but M Chinnaswamy Stadium’s world-class drainage facilities mean, play can start within 45 minutes.
Persistent rain did not allow any play on day one of the first test between India and New Zealand on Wednesday at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Heavy rain over the past 48 hours had delayed the toss and officials made the decision to take lunch without a ball being bowled. The entire day’s play was then called in the afternoon after the covers were briefly taken off the pitch.
The match officials came out to inspect the pitch around 2 PM after the outfield and the first layer of covers were removed around 1.50 PM. The play was called off at 2.34 PM.
India vs New Zealand: 1st Test, Day 1 – HIGHLIGHTS
Many fans wondered why the match could not be started even though the covers had come off.
Former India cricketer Saba Karim explained on JioCinema why the start was delayed, meaning no play was possible on Day 1.
ALSO READ | India vs New Zealand 1st Test: How Drainage System At M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru Works
The delay was due to the Hawk-Eye technology.
With the DRS rule in use, Hawk-Eye technology is usually installed on the pitch and stumps the day before the match. He revealed that it usually takes about an hour and a half to fully install the Hawk-Eye Technology but since it had has raining in Bengaluru since yesterday, covers had not been removed till the afternoon.
Saba Karim on air:“The Hawk-Eye formatting needs to happen after the covers are removed. That generally takes 1 hour and 30 minutes and it happens on the eve of the game, but since the surface was under covers from yesterday, that procedure is yet to happen”. pic.twitter.com/8EWuyiO1d5
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 16, 2024
More rain is expected over the next few days, but the M Chinnaswamy Stadium has world-class drainage facilities and play could start within 45 minutes.
ALSO READ | India vs New Zealand 1st Test, Day 2: Revised Session Timings With More Rain Expected
India is currently atop the World Test Championship standings, and a 3-0 win in this series against New Zealand would all but assure its spot for the final at Lord’s next June.
After beating Bangladesh 2-0 in the preceding test series, a full-strength Indian squad was once again available for selection.
New Zealand has already been on a long sub-continental tour. It began with the one-off washed out test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida, India, followed by a 2-0 loss in Sri Lanka.
The second and third tests will be played in Pune and Mumbai, respectively.
(With inputs from Agencies)
