Rain threat looms over Day 4 play of India vs Australia Bengaluru Test

The Bengaluru Test between India and Australia has started getting intense with both teams vying for a result. The contest between both sides got close with Indians fighting hard in the second innings with the bat. However, there is a serious threat to the Day 4 play of the Test match as heavy rains have hit the Bengaluru capital. The Chinnaswamy Stadium and its vicinity saw heavy downpour on Monday evening soon after the Day 3 play had concluded. Interestingly, the meteorological departments had earlier predicted heavy rains for this Test prior to the commencement of the match.

While monsoon in India usually begins late May or early June, the meteorological department of India had predicted rainfall during the second Test – between 4th to 7th March. The game was expected to be partially affected by rains, or even be a complete washout, and had become a matter of concern for the authorities. Yr.no – a Norwegian weather forecast and a meteorological website has predicted heavy rains in the Karnataka capital while the Indian Meteorological department has predicted scattered rainfall for the next one week in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.

But the Chinnaswamy Stadium has good arrangements to fight the rain if it is scattered. It recently installed the next-generation subsurface aeration and vacuum-powered drainage system from SubAir, USA, becoming the first ever installation of SubAir Systems for Cricket stadiums worldwide. The last time when team India drew a Test match because of interruption by rain was at the St Lucia Test in August 2016 with steady rain not allowing any play on the third day. Incidentally, the last time India played a Test match at Bengaluru, it was a washed out draw against South Africa in 2015.

Also read – Watch: KSCA demonstrates superfast rainwater absorption at Chinnaswamy using Sub-Air system

Talking about Day 3 play, the hosts managed to bowl out Australia for 276 in their first innings, thereby giving them an 87 run lead. The Indian team then finished the day on 213/4 with Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane looking well set at the crease. India has a lead of 126 in the match at the moment.