Rain To Ruin India vs West Indies Series Decider? Bengaluru Weather Forecast Sparks Concern

India and West Indies are set to take on each other at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the series-deciding fifth T20I. The series hangs in the balance, with both teams winning two matches each. As fans get ready for another run-fest, the Bengaluru weather has sparked concern. As per the weather forecast, there is a high chance of rain during the game. While the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is one of the sporting venues with the best drainage systems in the world, it might still be difficult to conduct a match in case of heavy rain.

The toss is scheduled to take place at around 6:30 PM IST. As per AccuWeather, the chance of rain during this period is between 49 and 34 per cent. During the first three hours of the match, the chances of rain increase from 34 per cent to 40 per cent. Around 10 PM IST, Bengaluru is expected to have a 78 per cent chance of rainfall.

With the West Indies proving to be unexpectedly feisty so far, India would need to iron out some of their hidden batting flaws to counter the visitors in what is expected to be a high-scoring and evenly contested series-deciding fifth T20I.

The preceding four run-fests have done India a massive disservice by masking multiple failings in their batting unit. The two sides are currently locked at 2-2 in the series.

Generally, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is a nightmare for bowlers, with its flat pitch and short boundaries.

However, the venue has not hosted an international match since the first Test against New Zealand in October 2024, and there have been no high-profile games apart from a handful of IPL matches during this period.

That unfamiliarity with the pitch could level the playing field to a certain extent.

In that context, India might consider including Kuldeep Yadav and late addition Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the playing XI on Saturday.

The 36-year-old Bhuvneshwar was added to the Indian squad for this match after fellow pacer Arshdeep Singh sustained a blow to his bowling shoulder during the fourth T20I in Hyderabad. For now, he is in as cover, and the final call on whether he plays will be taken closer to the match, depending on Arshdeep's condition.

(With PTI inputs)

Featured Video Of The Day

Spain's Royal Family Welcomes World Cup Champions To Zarzuela Palace