46 all out! New Zealand pacers make merry in Bengaluru as India register lowest Test total at home

The Indian Team registered their lowest Test total at home and third-lowest ever after getting all out on 46 in the first innings of the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand. After the first day got called off due to rain, the proceedings began on day two, with India captain Rohit Sharma winning the toss and electing to bat first. With overcast overhead conditions, the Kiwi bowlers made the most of it, picking early wickets upfront.

Former Test captain Tim Southee drew first blood by removing Rohit bowled on two. Batting at number three this time, Virat got out a nine-ball duck, with rookie seamer William ORourke picking his wicket. Fellow pacer Matt Henry made things worse for India by removing Sarfaraz Khan out on zero, with India’s scorecard reading 13 for three before rain interrupted play again.

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Things didn’t change enough for the hosts after the play resumed.

Henry and ORourke tore into India’s middle order to reduce their total to 39 for eight soon after. Of the top eight, five batters got out on zero, including Virat, Sarfaraz, KL Rahul and the two all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.

Although India got off to a horrible start, they still managed to surpass their lowest Test total—36 against Australia in Adelaide.

Six of India’s lowest team totals in this format have come in Australia and England, and their lowest at home before this came against the West Indies in Delhi in 1987.

Meanwhile, the 23-year-old ORourke, who impressed everyone with his tight line and length and nippy incoming deliveries in Sri Lanka, continues doing so, picking four for 22 in 12 overs.

On the other hand, Henry picked five wickets for 15.

Here is how the internet reacted -

1st time in history of Tests,a team has got allout under 50 in Asia — Sashank (@sas_3343) October 17, 2024

India's 46 all out is the second lowest total in history by a team that chose to bat in a home Test. Lowest is 42 by NZ vs Aus in Wellington in 1946. — Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) October 17, 2024

46 is India's lowest total at home.

The only other time 5 Indian players got out on duck in same innings at home was at Mohali in 1999-also vs NZ. That was Kapil Dev's first Test as coach. India,however, managed to draw the Test and could have actually won it #INDvsNZ #INDvNZ — Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) October 17, 2024

Wow I thought New Zealand were playing in India and not the other way around #IndvNZ — Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) October 17, 2024

New Zealand resumed batted in the first innings.