In a stunning display of bowling, New Zealand dismissed India for just 46 runs on the second day of the first Test in Bengaluru. After rain had washed out the entire first day, India opted to bat on a lively pitch, resulting in their third-lowest total in Test history.
The Indian batting lineup faltered dramatically, with notable players like Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin all failing to score, each departing for ducks. New Zealand seamers Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke were the standout performers, taking 5 wickets for 15 runs and 4 wickets for 22 runs, respectively.
Only Rishabh Pant, who contributed 20 runs, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, with 13 runs, managed to reach double figures in a dismal innings for the top-ranked team in the World Test Championship standings.
This total marks India’s lowest in a home Test, surpassed only by their infamous 36 all out against Australia in Adelaide in 2020 and 42 against England at Lord’s in 1974.
The Indian innings began with promise, as Jaiswal and captain Rohit Sharma brought the score to 9-0 in the seventh over. However, Rohit fell victim to Tim Southee’s bowling as he attempted an ambitious drive. Kohli’s stay at the crease lasted just nine balls before he gloved O’Rourke to leg slip.
Sarfaraz’s aggressive approach led to a catch at mid-off, and after a brief rain delay, a 10-over partnership with Pant yielded only 21 runs. Jaiswal’s dismissal came when he attempted to cut O’Rourke and was caught at point.
In quick succession, Rahul was caught down the leg side, Jadeja skied a catch off a leading edge, and Ashwin edged to gully all off Henry’s bowling. Pant’s dismissal followed, as he edged a delivery to second slip, leading to a remarkable catch by Henry at fine leg to claim Jasprit Bumrah’s top-edge.
Henry then completed his five-wicket haul by catching Kuldeep Yadav in the gully, capping off a memorable day for the New Zealand bowlers. India’s total of 46 runs is now recorded as the 18th-lowest in Test history.
