Pitch report: "The overnight rain has disappeared. The surface has played its role. The cracks have definitely widened and the Indian bowlers will be happy with that" say Murali Kartik and Simon Doull.

Play to start at 10:15

09:38 Local Time, 04:08 GMT, 09:38 IST: Just a few minutes away from the inspection now and the sun has come out. The Indian players are all out there warming up. The covers have all been removed and the stumps have been pitched. The gourndstaff are sweeping the areas just off the pitch.

09:21 Local Time, 03:51 GMT, 09:21 IST: Groundstaff starting to remove the covers now.

09:15 Local Time, 03:45 GMT, 09:15 IST: "The umpires are walking out to have a chat with the groundsman" says Ganesh

09:00 Local Time, 03:30 GMT: "We're only about fifteen minutes away from scheduled start but there's not much happening on the ground. Light drizzle at the moment but very overcast. Can't see a start on time from here" is the word from Ganesh.

All eyes are now on the weather. The forecasts, unfortunately, look far from promising.

Day 5:

STAT: Other than India’s three aforementioned Tests against New Zealand, there has only been one other instance in Test cricket history wherein a team bundled out for a sub-100 score in the first innings has responded with a 450-plus score in the second: ENG vs AUS in Melbourne in 1894/94 (75 & 475)

It was been an outstanding Test match. Some high quality batting from the Indian top-order but the lower middle-order and the tail just couldn't see off the second new ball and lost their last 7 wickets for just 54 runs. William ORourke the wrecker-in-chief getting the ball to misbehave after Southee troubled and got rid of the sensational Sarfaraz. It was a body blow when ORourke came on and removed Pant first ball. You sensed India were in trouble when those two fell and the rest just couldn't find a way to survive

Stumps, Day 4 - There is no chance for play to resume any more.

Now the groundstaff bring the covers on as they expect some rain

STAT: Other than India’s three aforementioned Tests against New Zealand, there has only been one other instance in Test cricket history wherein a team bundled out for a sub-100 score in the first innings has responded with a 450-plus score in the second: ENG vs AUS in Melbourne in 1894/94 (75 & 475)

Highest run-rates in a 450-plus Test innings for India
4.64 - 462 (99.3) vs NZ, Bengaluru, 2024
4.61 - 482 (4.61) vs NZ, Auckland, 1990
4.58 - 495 (108) vs WI, Mumbai WS, 2013
4.52 - 474 (104.5) vs AFG, Bengaluru, 2018
4.50 - 600 (133.1) vs SL, Galle, 2017

Since March 2010, there have been five instances of a visiting quick bagging 7 or more wickets in a Test in India, four of them for New Zealand: Matt Henry and William O’Rourke in this Test and Tim Southee in Kanpur 2021 and Bengaluru 2012 respectively.

India’s innings
First new ball (Overs 1-80): 400/3 (RR: 5)
Second new-ball (Overs 81-99.3): 62/7 (RR: 3.18)

17 wickets is the most a visiting fast bowling unit has bagged in a Test against India in India since 19 by South Africa in Ahmedabad in 2008.

Highest improvement from 1st to 2nd inns scores in Tests for India
486 - 171 & 657/7d vs AUS, Kolkata, 2001
422 - 83 & 505/3d vs NZ, Mohali, 1999
416 - 46 & 462 vs NZ, Bengaluru, 2024
375 - 88 & 463/5d vs NZ, Brabourne, 1965
346 - 164 & 510 vs ENG, Headingley, 1967

Other than India’s three aforementioned Tests against New Zealand, there has only been one other instance in Test cricket history wherein a team bundled out for a sub-100 score in the first innings has responded with a 450-plus score in the second: ENG vs AUS in Melbourne in 1894/94 (75 & 475)

16:50 Local Time, 11:20 GMT: It is quite dark now. Umps converge