While playing in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, India suffered one of the most upsetting collapses ever and scored only 46 runs in total, their third-worst overall performance in a Test match. Fascinatingly, the bowlers from New Zealand held nothing back and took advantage of the gloomy weather, and India never looked in control. Hosted by M. Chinnaswamy stadium, This game set a record for the lowest score ever posted by India in one of its home grounds and one of the most embarrassing games for India in test cricket history.
A Historic Collapse
46 brings down the score for India the most when playing at home, a record which stood at 75 when India last lost to West Indies in 1987 In Delhi, which was previously recorded. It is also the third-lowest score for India in Test cricket overall, after 36 against Australia in adelaide 2020 and 42 against England in 1974 at Lord’s. This was a shocking performance for the team more used of its batting resources and doing damage, especially when playing at home.
The First Hour: A Nightmare Start
After winning the toss, India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, chose to bat first. However, the decision turned out to be a poor one. In the first hour itself, the Indian top order crumbled under pressure from the Kiwi pace attack. Tim Southee dismissed Rohit Sharma who could only contribute a few runs to the score. The dream turned sour when the main batsman of the team, Virat Kohli was out for a first-ball duck without any run by William O’Rourke, and the same was the case for Sarfaraz Khan who got out for a zero score. When India crossed the 10-over mark, three wickets were lost, and only ten runs were scored.
Such a poor performance put the whole team on the back foot and was just an indication of the total shambles that was yet to come. As far as the home test series is concerned, this is only the third instance since only the third time since 1990 album where three Indian wickets fell for 10 runs or less in a home series.
Brief Respite, Then More Wickets
Despite this early onslaught, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant offered brief resistance. Following a rain break, they managed to survive for a few overs, but their stay at the crease was cut short by another brilliant delivery from O’Rourke, which saw Jaiswal dismissed for 13 off 63 balls. Pant soon followed him back to the pavilion, and India was left at 33/5, with KL Rahul being another notable failure as he was dismissed cheaply.
As the wickets kept tumbling, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin were also unable to make an impact. The second session proved even worse, with back-to-back dismissals of Ashwin and Pant, leaving India at the brink of registering their second-lowest Test total.
A Record-Breaking Low
India’s collapse was significant not only in terms of the score but also due to the records it shattered. Four of India’s top seven batsmen were dismissed without scoring a single run, an occurrence that had never happened before in a home Test match. Kohli, Sarfaraz, KL Rahul, and Jadeja all departed for ducks, an astonishing statistic for a team that has historically dominated in home conditions.
By the time the ninth wicket fell, India was on the verge of posting their second-lowest score in Test history. However, a small partnership between Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj added six runs for the final wicket, slightly improving the total to 46. This modest stand saved India from matching or breaking their lowest total of 36, but the final outcome still left the team with one of the worst innings in their illustrious history.
New Zealand’s Masterclass
New Zealand’s bowling attack deserves full credit for this humiliating collapse. Seamers like Tim Southee and William O’Rourke used the overcast conditions perfectly, swinging the ball both ways and making life incredibly difficult for the Indian batsmen. Every ball seemed to carry a threat, and India’s usually formidable lineup had no answers to the relentless pressure.
O’Rourke, who was the standout performer, ended the innings with four crucial wickets, while Southee continued to prove why he is one of the most dangerous bowlers in such conditions.
A Wake-Up Call for India
This performance should serve as a wake-up call for India. Despite the strength and depth of their batting lineup, the team has now suffered two collapses under 50 runs in recent years, with their 36 all-out against Australia still fresh in memory. The collapse in Bengaluru highlighted the continuing struggles against high-quality seam bowling, especially in conditions that assist swing.
While this defeat marks a significant low point, India will need to regroup quickly. The team will be under immense pressure to bounce back in the second innings and salvage some pride from the match. With New Zealand in control, it remains to be seen how India will respond to this setback.
