India bowls out at 46, making the lowest Test total at home; Pant top scorer with 2o runs as NZ claim five ducks

In a dramatic and unanticipated turn of events, India faced a crushing collapse on home soil, bowled out for a mere 46 runs by New Zealand at Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday. This stunning score marks India's lowest total in a Test match played at home and their third-lowest overall, joining a list of rare and painful lows in the nation's cricketing history.

The opening Test match of the series was delayed by rain, with only the second day offering play. Winning the toss, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma chose to bat, looking to put runs on the board early, despite the overcast conditions. However, the gamble backfired spectacularly, as the New Zealand pacers took full advantage of the moist, lively pitch. Within mere overs, India found themselves teetering at 10/3, a position that stunned fans and set the tone for what would become an unforgettable day of cricket.

Tim Southee and Matt Henry quickly unleashed a series of pace deliveries that exposed the Indian batting lineup's vulnerability. Henry’s clinical precision saw him claim 5-15, while young William O’Rourke picked up 4-22, creating havoc in just his second Test match. With a combination of bounce and movement, O'Rourke forced Indian batsmen into errors they wouldn’t normally make.

Virat Kohli, who has been a mainstay in India’s lineup for over a decade, fell victim to O'Rourke with a zero, adding to the five ducks in India’s scorecard. Kohli’s dismissal — his first duck in 32 innings — was a major blow, as he edged one to leg gully, silencing a shocked crowd.

New Zealand’s performance was an astonishing team effort. Henry not only claimed his 100th Test wicket but also made history by achieving the feat in just 26 innings — just one shy of Kiwi legend Richard Hadlee.

O’Rourke’s contributions were similarly significant. His delivery that dismissed Rohit Sharma, which nipped back sharply, epitomised the skillful use of favorable conditions and set the tone for New Zealand’s onslaught. By lunch, India had already lost six wickets, with just 34 runs on the board.

The pressure didn’t let up after the break. Ravichandran Ashwin, dismissed on the first ball after lunch, couldn’t hold off Henry’s relentless pace attack. Shortly after, Rishabh Pant — India’s top scorer with a modest 20 runs — attempted a counterattack, only to be caught by Tom Blundell. With India at 40-9, their fate was effectively sealed, and the final wicket fell shortly thereafter, leaving India with a dismal total of 46.

The shock waves from this collapse were profound. This was India’s lowest score ever on Asian soil, surpassing the previous record of 53 set by West Indies against Pakistan in 1986 and Pakistan against Australia in 2002. The last time India faced a similar low was their 36 all-out against Australia in Adelaide in 2020 — a game that led to major introspection in Indian cricket circles.

(With inputs from agencies)