India captain Rohit Sharma has won the toss and decided to bat first in the rain-affected opening test against New Zealand.

India will look to continue an unprecedented run of test success on home soil when they face an injury-hit New Zealand in the opener of a three-match series beginning on Wednesday. Since losing 2-1 to a touring England side in 2012,

Persistent rain has delayed the toss for the first cricket test between India and New Zealand on Wednesday at Bengaluru, India. India is currently atop the World Test Championship standings, and a 3-0 win in this series against New Zealand would assure its spot for the final at Lord’s next June.

India and New Zealand are preparing to face off in a three-match Test series, beginning in Bangalore on October 16. It is a series with big ramifications for the World Test Championship as India look to seal the qualification for a third consecutive finals.