In a shocking display, India recorded their lowest-ever Test total on home soil, being bowled out for just 46 runs against New Zealand during the first Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday. This disastrous performance surpassed their previous lowest home total of 75, set against the West Indies in 1987 in Delhi, and marked their third-lowest total in Test cricket overall.
The match, which began on Day 2 after Day 1 was washed out due to rain, saw India opt to bat first after winning the toss. However, their innings quickly fell apart. Captain Rohit Sharma was the first to depart, cleaned up by Kiwi pacer Tim Southee. From there, India’s batting lineup collapsed, with wickets tumbling in rapid succession.
In the absence of opener Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli was promoted to the No. 3 spot, but he couldn’t make an impact and was dismissed for an eight-ball duck. By lunch, India was struggling at 34/6, marking their sixth-lowest total at the fall of the sixth wicket in a Test match.
The situation deteriorated further as R Ashwin was dismissed on the first ball of the second session. Kiwi pacers Willam O’Rourke and Matt Henry combined to wreak havoc on the Indian batting order, wrapping up the innings with remarkable efficiency.
India’s collapse at 46 is their lowest-ever Test total on home turf, and it adds to their overall list of record-low scores, with the infamous 36 all out against Australia in 2020 in Adelaide still looming large as their lowest-ever total.
