In a historic and shocking collapse, India recorded their lowest-ever Test score at home, getting bowled out for just 46 runs by New Zealand in Bengaluru. The Kiwis took full advantage of the overcast conditions, with their bowlers dominating the Indian top order. Four of the top seven Indian batsmen, including Virat Kohli, were dismissed for ducks, leaving India reeling at 33/5. Despite some resilience from the lower order, India’s innings folded quickly. This new low surpassed the previous home record of 75 runs against the West Indies in 1987.
First Session Struggles
India won the toss and opted to bat first, a decision that quickly backfired. The overcast skies allowed New Zealand’s seamers to extract extra movement from the ball. Openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal struggled to get runs on the board, and Rohit was the first to fall with the score at just 9. What followed was a stunning sequence of dismissals. Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, and KL Rahul all fell for ducks, leaving India in deep trouble.
New Zealand’s Bowling Brilliance
New Zealand’s bowlers, led by Tim Southee and William O’Rourke, put on a masterclass in seam bowling. The ball swung both ways, making life difficult for the Indian batters. O’Rourke was particularly lethal, accounting for Kohli and Jaiswal, leaving India in tatters by the first hour.
Brief Resistance and Collapse
While Rishabh Pant and Ravichandran Ashwin tried to weather the storm, they couldn’t last long. The wickets kept tumbling after the brief rain break. By the time India was down to 40/9, it was only a matter of time before the innings folded. Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj managed to push the total to 46 before Siraj was dismissed, ending India’s innings.
A New Low for Indian Cricket
This score of 46 surpassed India’s previous lowest home total of 75 runs against the West Indies in 1987. It also marks India’s third-lowest Test total overall, with the lowest being 36 against Australia in Adelaide (2020).