IND vs NZ 1st Test Day 5 Weather Forecast: Will Rain Impact The Match in Bengaluru Today?

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The India vs New Zealand 1st Test enters the ultimate day as the visitors look to chase 107 for victory over the hosts on Sunday (October 20) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

The entire opening day of the Bengaluru Test was washed out due to persistent rains in the city. Once play started on day 2, India posted their lowest total on home soil in the first innings after skipper Rohit Sharma opted to bat first on a surface that was under covers for a long time.

Day two remained overcast for the first session, but the weather since then had seen the sun out in Bengaluru as the run-scoring also eased as New Zealand posted 402 in their response to India's first innings score of 46 All Out with the visitors in the process taking a 356-run lead.

On day 3, India fought back through a counter attack led by Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal, while Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan carried on the onslaught with fifties. Sarfaraz then scored 150, sharing a stand with Rishabh Pant as the hosts wiped out the deficit on day 4.

The home side, however, fell to the second new ball and managed to take a lead of just 106 for the Kiwis to chase in the closing moments of the final session, which was forced to an abrupt end due to Bengaluru rains.

It rained overnight and carried into the early hours of day 5 with further threat of showers during the playing hours likely to force a draw. But will rain spoil play today? Here is a look at the weather forecast for Bengaluru Sunday (October 20):

Bengaluru Weather Forecast for October 20

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), after rain cut short play on the fourth day, Sunday's forecast predicts a generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers. There has been overnight showers that spilled into the morning on Sunday, October 20.

On October 20, temperatures are anticipated to range between 21 and 27 degrees Celsius, but there is threat of thunderstorms for most parts of the day, possibly forcing interruptions and delays in the game.

Will rain play spoilsport in IND vs NZ 1st Test day 5?

As per AccuWeather, there is prediction for spells of showers and thunderstorms throughout the day on Sunday (October 20) in parts of Bengaluru. In fact, the weather aggregator predicts thunderstorms as early as 9 AM IST.

There is also forecast for thunderstorms to carry on till 11 AM IST. But after that, there is respite for three hours with the next spell of rain predicted to arrive around 2 PM IST, lasting until 4 PM IST.

The match could go either way as New Zealand could face a similar situation to what India faced in their first innings, batting on a surface that has been under covers for a long period.

With prediction of rain for most parts of the day, fans would be worried ahead of the final day of the Test. But one of the best drainage system at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, gives every chance of obtaining a result if there is no persistent rains like day one.