UPDATE - 6.30 am GMT - Great news! The rain has eased, and we now see the match officials along with some team management staff inspecting the outfield. Although the covers remain in place, the rain has now completely stopped, which is an encouraging sign that the delay may not last much longer. Scratch that, the rain has picked up in intensity and we are in for a longer delay than we initially hoped. Anil Kumble, who is from Bengaluru, informs on air that it's not a good sign when the rain comes from the far end of the pavilion, and unfortunately, that’s the case today. We'll keep you posted on further developments.

... DAY 4, SESSION 2 ...

New Zealand, however, remain just a couple of quick wickets away from deflating India's spirits. With the second new ball only 9 overs away, the Kiwi pacers will be eager to take advantage of the added moisture on the pitch and strike early if and when play resumes after Lunch. For India, it will be crucial not to look too far ahead. Sarfaraz and Pant will need to exercise caution in the early part of the session before settling in again. We will be back in 40 minutes for the start of the second session, weather permitting. Cheers!

New Zealand, on the other hand, have struggled to apply any real pressure, with only 2 out of the 22 overs this morning being maidens. This highlights their inability to contain the Indian batters, though, to be fair, the surface has offered them little assistance. The cracks in the pitch, which were expected to trouble the batters, haven't played as much of a factor, barring a few deliveries that misbehaved early on but other than that, Sarfaraz and Pant remained untroubled. The closest New Zealand came to breaking this partnership was a missed run-out opportunity when Pant was on 6, a chance that could come back to haunt them.

Well, that was an eventful session, and it firmly belonged to India. Trailing by 125 runs at the start of the day, India would have hoped to avoid losing a wicket in the morning session, and they have achieved just that. The hosts put on 113 runs in the 22 overs bowled during the session, scoring at an impressive rate of 5.13 runs per over. Sarfaraz Khan resumed from where he left off, putting on a masterclass of late cuts and finding boundaries at will on his way to a maiden Test century. Rishabh Pant started cautiously but soon began taking on the spinners to steadily chip away at the deficit.

UPDATE - 5.49 am GMT - As the rain continues to pour down in Bengaluru, the match officials have decided to take LUNCH early. Saba Karim, reporting from the venue, is seen holding an umbrella and informs that the rain has intensified.

UPDATE - 5.31 am GMT - Uh oh! A bit of drizzle in the air. It has picked up and the players are going off. New Zealand won't mind this one bit. This break gives them a chance to reflect and regroup. The playing surface and the square have been covered. It does look ominous with dark clouds looming. Let's hope that this is just a brief break in play.

Rachin Ravindra has been handed the ball now.