India vs New Zealand 1st Test Abandoned Without a Ball Being Bowled Due to Rain

The first Test match between India and New Zealand has been abandoned without a single ball being bowled at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru due to rain. The India Meteorological Department had issued an orange alert, warning of three more days of rain, and the teams decided it was not feasible to continue with the match.

The match was scheduled to start on October 17, but the rain had other plans. Kane Williamson, New Zealand's all-time leading run scorer in Test cricket, was already ruled out of the first Test due to a groin strain. He will now spend time in the indoor nets at the National Cricket Academy facility to rehabilitate and recover from the injury. In his place, Mark Chapman has been added to the squad, with Will Young set to bat at number 3 and Rachin Ravindra playing at number 4.

India, on the other hand, chose to bat first, with team captain Rohit Sharma justifying the decision to bat on the damp pitch. Shubman Gill was not available due to neck stiffness, and was replaced by Kuldeep Yadav in the XI. The decision was a surprise, but Rohit felt that batting on a damp pitch was the best option for the team. The match was a part of India's golden jubilee celebrations, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association had decorated the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in honor of the occasion.

The abandonment of the match means that the Test series will not get off to a thrilling start, but the series will be more competitive than ever. As New Zealand captain Rohit Sharma said in a statement, the tour had "lost out on a day of cricket" but the team will look forward to the next match and continue with their performances. The teams will be back in action soon and cricket fans can expect an exciting series.