NAGPUR: Inclement weather is threatening to seriously dent India's chances of winning the Test series against New Zealand as rain may play spoilsport in the third Test between the two sides starting here on Saturday.

The wickets at the venues of the first two Tests in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad had proved to be a bowlers' nightmare but what would worry the home team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni more than that here would be the fickle weather.

The heavy downpour this afternoon resulted in the Indian team's practice session being called off. It was an optional session but heavy rains kept the players confined to their hotel rooms.

The New Zealand team was lucky in this regard as they had done their practice in the morning. The pitch and a portion of the outfield remained covered during the afternoon session.

The worst part is that there has been consistent rainfall in this part of the country. If one goes by the words of the locals, at least once a week, there has been heavy downpour which is not good news for the home team.

Dhoni and his boys would surely pray to the weather Gods that heavens do not open up during the five days of the Test match.

Each and every session will be important and even the curtailment of an hour's play may just mean that the world number one Test team would be under even more pressure to produce a result.

Dhoni's opposite number Daniel Vettori would also like to play and force a result which will mean a memorable first Test series win in India in the history of New Zealand cricket.

Even a drawn Test series can be termed creditable for New Zealand after drawing a lot of flak for conceding a 0-4 ODI series loss against Bangladesh before coming to India.