October 16, 2024: The first Test between India and New Zealand at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium has seen a delayed toss due to rain, as shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
Fans will have to wait for updates as the weather plays a role in this highly anticipated series opener.
India, led by Rohit Sharma, will aim to extend their impressive home dominance, having not lost a Test series at home since their defeat to England in 2012-13. They are currently at the top of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) standings for the 2023-25 cycle, with eight wins from 11 matches. In contrast, New Zealand, coming off a tough 2-0 series loss to Sri Lanka, sits in sixth place on the WTC table with three wins from eight Tests.
The Indian squad features a strong mix of talent, with pacer Jasprit Bumrah appointed as vice-captain. For this series, the squad includes stars like Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Ravichandran Ashwin, while Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan provide fresh energy. Meanwhile, Tom Latham will captain New Zealand, following Tim Southee’s decision to step down after their recent series. Key players for the Kiwis include Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, and Mitchell Santner, among others.
The teams are set to battle in a three-match Test series, with India hoping to maintain their unbeaten streak at home and New Zealand looking to bounce back from their recent struggles. Fans are eager for the action to begin, but for now, all eyes are on the weather.
