India vs New Zealand WTC Final Highlights: Play called off on Day 1 due to rain and wet outfield

That was extremely unfortunate. After losing more than three hours on the opening day, the play has finally been called off. The proceedings will begin again tomorrow, same time. Til then, take care.

The reserve day or sixth day will officially come into effect half an hour into the second session i.e. 6:40 pm IST. The two and half hours of play already lost, can be made up in the course of the next five days with 30 minutes of an early start on each day. Whatever time is lost from the 2 and a half hours on Friday, will be added to the sixth day on June 23. (Here's how the reserve day will be used)

No drizzling at Southampton and as tweeted by the BCCI, there will be an official inspection at 7:30 pm IST

The rain has stopped, the ground staff is in action and now, the match officials are out on the field to inspect the conditions.

vs Neil Wagner: 4 innings, 43 runs, 2 dimissals

vs Trent Boult: 4 innings, 39 runs, 0 dismissals

The rain has finally stopped in Southampton but clouds are still there. The ground staff are out with their equipment to get rid off the puddles formed in the ground. Meanwhile, the players are having a nice stroll around the park.

According to ESPN Cricinfo, there has been no drizzling since the last 30 minutes - the longest phase without rain since yesterday. But a lot of work has to be done as it's a wet swamp out there.

No signs of cricket at the Rose Bowl in Southampton as the rain persists. The BCCI has tweeted an update and it won't help out already-down excitement levels. The tweet read, "The wait continues."

The weather didn't allow the game to commence. The toss got delayed and the entire first session was washed off. It's lunch at the Rose Bowl.

While the Indian men's team wait for the rain to stop so that they could play, the women's team has gone through a horrendous collapse against England women despite starting off well. India were forced to follow on after they folded for 231 in their first innings during the opening session on day 3 of the one-off Test against England Women here on Friday. The visitors trail by 65 runs after England declared their first innings at 395 for 9 on day two.

"I have played those guys and know about their strengths and weaknesses. It will all boil down to what the conditions are, what sort of situation the team is in, whether we are batting first or second. All that will count and it's important not to overthink. Against a quality side, it is also very important to keep things simple, and realistic.

As reported by Cricbuzz, the drizzling did stop but just for a while. It has begun to rain again and the disappointment and boredom continue.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan takes a dug on Team India ahead as the WTC Final gets delayed due to rain.

"I see India have been saved by the weather …." he tweeted.

"I hate to be the bearer of even more bad news, but it is pouring down at the Rose Bowl, to the point of questionable visibility. It's not looking good for the day, folks. "Even the super sopper has had enough of this," says Nasser Hussain

Contribution by each team's lower-order batsman (#8-#12) in ICC Test Championship

India: 82 innings, 893 runs

New Zealand: 50 innings, 757 runs

Dinesh Karthik, who is present at Rose Bowl as a commentator, gives a valuable update. He says, "it's still windy and pouring in here."

No improvement in the situation as it continues to drizzle. There is a lot of water in the ground which is making the ground staff work harder. The rain spoilt the mood during India's encounter with NZ in the 2019 WC semi-final. And the history repeats. The two sides meet in the WTC final and get welcomed by relentless rain.

"I am looking forward to the battle of the pace bowling attacks, both New Zealand and India have very good pace bowling attacks. India has the better-balanced attack because they have got some good spinners and because Jadeja is an all-rounder, they might get the opportunity to play another spinner. Another thing I am looking forward to is the performance of Rishabh Pant, he is a much-improved cricketer. I think it should be a really good WTC final," said Chappell in a video posted on ICC's Twitter.

The down pour continues in Southampton, as reported by Star Sports. The toss has been delayed till lunch. Let's hope the rain God shows some mercy and we witness some action at the Rose Bowl.

"We are so delighted that we are in the final, we feel we have earned our place and belong where we are. We are happy some spectators are going to watch, which is justice for something of this magnitude, because a big final without spectators would have been anticlimactic. It's not the final frontier, it's just another feather to add to our hat that we have created as a Test team. It's a culmination of the toil over the last 4-5 years," Kohli on Star Sports.

The super sopper is on as the ground staff is leaving no stone unturned to make the field ready. The first session has been called off. Toss expected to happen after lunch, only if the weather permits.

While the play has gets halted due to rain, let's go through some stats.

Virat Kohli vs Kyle Jamieson in Test cricket

21 runs

45 balls

3 fours

1 dismissal

The Kiwis are sitting in the dressing room and having coffee as the rain has halted the play and the toss has been delayed.

"It's chucking it down. It's such a shame because for the last three weeks in the UK, it's been warm, it's been sunny. And just hardly we are supposed to start, the weather changed. And it's proper rain, even by England standards," says Nasser Hussain on Star Sports.

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has sent his best wishes to the Indian cricket team for the WTC final. "One final Test awaits boys! Bring the cup home," Pandya tweeted.