Toss delayed due to rain World Cup 2019 India vs New Zealand live updates

Most of the covers have been taken off. Groundsmen are still at work. The super soppers at work.

3:13 pm: The inspection is delayed for the second time. The umpires will now come out at 4:00 pm IST (11.30 am local time). It was last scheduled for 3:30 IST.

3:07 pm: Rain has stopped once again. A few covers outside are being taken off but remember, l there is an inspection in 20 minutes. In mid-pitch, the water is being drained off the covers by the groundstaff.

3:05 pm: India and New Zealand faced off in England in 1999 as well. On that occasion, it was the Kiwis who ran out as winners and booked their place in the semi-finals.

3:00 pm: The drizzle is still steady at Trent Bridge. The next inspection will be at 3:30 pm IST. Let’s hope we have better forecast in the next half-an-hour.

India are missing Shikhar Dhawan, who led his side to their second win of the 50-over tournament with his 117 against holders Australia on Sunday, but the opener took a hit near the thumb during the innings and didn’t come out to field at the Oval.

Dhawan’s injury is a blow to Virat Kohli’s side, who are playing the table-toppers today before taking on arch rivals Pakistan in Manchester on Sunday.

Dhawan suffered the injury as a result of a nasty blow from a rising delivery by Australia paceman Pat Cummins in the early phase of his innings but went on to complete his 17th one-day international century.

Dhawan, however, played no further part in the match after his dismissal, with substitute Ravindra Jadeja taking the field in his place as India comfortably defended their total of 352 for five to complete a 36-run victory. He has played 10 World Cup matches since his debut in 2010, scoring 537 runs at an average of 53.70.

Kohli called Dhawan a “world-class” player with a “big-match temperament” after his heroics against Australia.

But KL Rahul, who seemed to have provided an answer to India’s No 4 worries, will now be opening the innings and Kohli and Co are left looking for another option in the middle order

And here comes the rain and covers… #cwc19 #indvnz pic.twitter.com/hApGZBSaHn

— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) June 13, 2019