India’s cricket team faced a humiliating defeat against New Zealand, suffering their lowest-ever total at home in Bengaluru. The Indian side was bowled out for just 46 runs, marking their third-lowest Test total in history. Five players scored ducks, with only two managing to reach double figures during the massive collapse.
New Zealand took the final four wickets for a mere 12 runs after India won the toss and opted to bat first. This resulted in the fourth-lowest first innings total after choosing to bat in Test cricket history. Matt Henry stood out as the top performer among the bowlers, claiming five wickets for just 15 runs in 13.2 overs, including three maidens.
The first day of the Test match was affected by rain. However, the New Zealand bowlers capitalized on the overcast conditions. By the end of a stop-start opening session, the hosts were struggling at 34 for six. Post-lunch, Henry continued to make an impact, dismissing Ravichandran Ashwin on the first ball. He even had a hat-trick opportunity against Rishabh Pant but missed out.
Despite unexpected seam movement, the Indian batsmen failed to weather the storm. Key players such as Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ashwin were all out for ducks. Only captain Rohit Sharma was bowled out, while the rest of the dismissals were caught, with wicketkeeper Tom Blundell accounting for one catch.
This Test match is the first of a three-match series, with the subsequent matches scheduled to take place in Pune and Mumbai. New Zealand’s opening pair displayed solid performance, swiftly reaching 30 runs without loss in response.
The Indian team will need to regroup and strategize to bounce back from this embarrassing defeat as they aim to regain their competitive edge in the upcoming matches.