BENGALURU: India registered an unwanted record as they were bundled for their lowest total at home in Test cricket during the first of the three-match series against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday.
New Zealand pacers William O’Rourke and Matt Henry wreaked havoc on the second day of the opening Test after the first day was washed out due to rain.
The two pacers shared nine wickets to bundle India for a meagre 46 runs, which is their lowest total at home, meanwhile, overall it is their third lowest.
Previously, 75 was India’s lowest total at home, which they registered against West Indies at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in 1987.
Meanwhile, their lowest total in Test cricket was 36 during their thumping eight-wicket loss against Australia in 2020.
India’s lowest totals in Test cricket
- 36-all out vs Australia in Adelaide in 2020
- 42-all out vs England in London in 1974
- 46-all out vs New Zealand in Bengaluru in 2024*
- 58-all out vs Australia in Brisbane in 1947
- 58-all out vs England in Manchester in 1952
Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first, however, the decision backfired as New Zealand breathed fire.
Sarfaraz Khan was included in the line-up in place of unfit Shubman Gill, meanwhile, New Zealand replaced injured Kane Williamson with Will Young.
Sharma was the first wicket to fall for the hosts followed by Virat Kohli, who bagged a rare duck leaving India reeling at 9-2.
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Sarfaraz Khan followed suit and got out without opening his account. Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a cautious 13 off 63 before O’Rourke sent him back to the pavilion.
Rishabh Pant held on to one end and played a gutsy knock of 20 runs amidst a ferocious spell of pace bowling.
Jaiswal and Pant were the only Indian batters who managed to reach double-figures, meanwhile, five batters bagged a duck.
Matt Henry took the final wicket of Kuldeep Yadav (2) to skittle India for 46, completing his five-wicket haul. Meanwhile, O’Rourke returned with bowling figures of 4-22.
India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
New Zealand Playing XI: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, William O’Rourke
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