In a shocking and historic collapse, India was bowled out for a paltry 46 runs on Day 2 of the first Test against New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. This embarrassing total marks India's lowest score in Test cricket on home soil, surpassing their previous low of 75 against the West Indies in Delhi in 1987.
Opting to bat first, India’s top order crumbled spectacularly, with five batsmen, including the likes of Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin, departing for ducks. Skipper Rohit Sharma managed only 2 runs, while Rishabh Pant’s gritty 20 and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 13 were the only double-digit scores in what can only be described as a nightmare for Indian fans.
New Zealand’s pace attack, spearheaded by Matt Henry with 5 wickets and William O'Rourke with 4 wickets, tore through the Indian batting line-up with ruthless precision. Tim Southee chipped in with a wicket to complete India’s humiliation. The sheer dominance of New Zealand’s bowlers left India scrambling, adding an unwanted feat to their Test cricket history.
With India bowled out in just 31.2 overs, the visitors took control of the match, trailing by just 42 runs. It was a day Indian cricket would want to forget, as questions loom over their batting frailties, especially at home.
