Sport

First New Zealand-India T20 washed out by Wellington rain

21:02 pm on 18 November 2022

Rain in Wellington has washed out the opening Twenty20 international between New Zealand and India without a ball being bowled.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and Indian player Bhuvneshwar Kumar ahead of the Twenty20 series between the two nations. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Play never looked likely when heavy rain began dousing the capital at about 7pm, ahead of a start time of 7.30pm at Sky Stadium.

The umpires abandoned the match just before 9pm.

The second match of the three-game series is scheduled for Sunday evening in Mount Maunganui with both teams eager for success after being eliminated from the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in Australia last week.

India have rested regular skipper Rohit Sharma, stalwart Virat Kohli and opener KL Rahul for the series and are still without injured pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

New Zealand's selectors omitted veterans Trent Boult and Martin Guptill from the series, which concludes in Napier on Tuesday.

The teams then play a three-match one-day international series.

- RNZ