India vs England 1st T20I: Rain threat looms over Durham clash; weather forecast explained

NEW DELHI: India will be hoping to put the disappointment of the Ireland series behind them when they take on England in the opening T20I of the five-match series at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street, Durham, on Wednesday.However, the weather could become a major talking point, with rain forecast throughout the evening and the possibility of interruptions during the match.

India head into the series after suffering a shocking 2-0 whitewash against Ireland in Belfast. The opening game against England now offers Shreyas Iyer's side a chance to bounce back and regain confidence.There will also be plenty of attention on 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who is still waiting for his India debut after remaining on the bench during both matches in Ireland.

With India's top order struggling in that series, the youngster could finally get his opportunity.England, led by Harry Brook, will start as favourites at home after another strong World Cup campaign, but India will be eager to continue their impressive record against the Three Lions. India have never lost a multi-match T20I series to England.

India vs England 1st T20I: Rain likely during the match

The weather forecast suggests that rain could affect the opening T20I.

According to AccuWeather, the evening forecast predicts cloudy and breezy conditions with a couple of showers.The temperature is expected to be around 16°C, while the RealFeel temperature could drop to 11°C because of the wind.There is a 61% chance of rain, with around 1.5 mm of rainfall expected during the evening. Cloud cover is forecast to be as high as 97%, while southwesterly winds of around 20 km/h, with gusts reaching 50 km/h, could make conditions challenging for players.

India vs England 1st T20I: Showers expected overnight as well

The forecast remains similar after the match.Overnight temperatures are expected to fall to around 13°C, with a 60% chance of further showers and an additional 0.9 mm of rain possible.Winds from the west-southwest could reach 26 km/h, with gusts touching 56 km/h, while humidity is expected to rise to 82%.