IND vs NZ 1st Test: M Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch report and Bengaluru Weather Forecast

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IND vs NZ 1st Test: India will take on New Zealand in the first Test of the three-match series at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru from Wednesday, October 16.

India will be entering the series on the back of a 2-0 win against Bangladesh at home. New Zealand, on the other hand, lost both their Test matches in Sri Lanka recently. They were scheduled to play a one off Test against New Zealand in Greater Noida but that was abandoned with even the toss taking place due to rain and poor ground conditions.

New Zealand have failed to win any of their last five Test matches, whereas India have won each of their last five red-ball matches. They are currently the table-toppers in World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 standings.

India and New Zealand last played a Test match in Bengaluru back in 2012. India won the match by five wickets by playing just four specialist bowlers (two pacers and two spinners).

M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru Pitch Report

India last played a Test match in Bengaluru in March 2022. It was a pink ball day-night Test, but both the teams opted to play with three spinners.

India had Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel, while Sri Lanka came out with Lasith Embuldeniya, Praveen Jayawickrama and Dhananjaya de Silva.

India scored 252 after electing to bat first as Sri Lanka spinners picked eight wickets in the first innings. Shreyas Iyer top-scored for India with 92. In reply, Sri Lanka were bundled out for 109. Jasprit Bumrah picked a five-wicket haul, while India spinners picked three wickets.

In the second innings, India declared at 303/9 after another eight wickets from Sri Lanka spinners. Chasing 447, Sri Lanka were bundled out for 208 as India won by 238 runs. Bumrah picked three wickets, while the remaining six wickets were taken by the spinners.

The second-last Test was played in Bengaluru in 2018. India played with two spinners and three pacers including Hardik Pandya. Jadeja and Ashwin picked eleven wickets in the match as Afghanistan won by an innings and 262 runs after electing to bat first.

There is a high chance of India opting to bat again, but they might play with three pacers and two spinners this time. This was the team combination against Bangladesh, and it's unlikely to change in Bengaluru at least where conditions will be overcast.

Bengaluru Weather Report on Wednesday, October 16

Rain showers have been predicted in Bengaluru on Tuesday, a day before the first Test in the city. The chances of rain are very high on Wednesday, October 16 as well.

The precipitation level would be hundred percent, and the humidity level would be as high as 80-85 percent. Day 3 - Friday, October 18, will be the only day when the precipitation level will expectedly drop below 70. High chances of rain would remain on all the remaining four days. The temperature in the Karnataka capital will be close to 26-28 degree celsius.

How to watch IND vs NZ 1st Test?

Live streaming of India vs New Zealand 1st Test will be done on the JioCinema app and website for free.

Which TV channel will show India vs New Zealand 1st Test match?

India vs New Zealand first Test will be live telecasted on Sports 18-1 SD, Sports 18-1 HD, Sports 18-2 (Hindi)