India’s Cricket Team Suffers Historic Collapse, All Out for 46 Against New Zealand
In a stunning collapse, India was bowled out for just 46 runs in their first innings against New Zealand, marking their lowest Test score ever on home soil. This dismal performance took place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where Indian hopes were dashed following a rapid decline from 31-3 to an all-out total.
Veteran New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee struck early, clean-bowling Indian captain Rohit Sharma for only two runs. The team faced further disaster as star batter Virat Kohli was one of five players to score a duck, leaving India in a precarious position with only 10 runs on the board.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant briefly attempted to stabilize the innings, contributing 13 and 20 runs, respectively. However, after reaching 31-3, India quickly collapsed to 34-7, with KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin also dismissed without scoring.
Matt Henry was the standout bowler for New Zealand, taking 5 wickets for just 15 runs, while William O’Rourke added 4 wickets for 22 runs, demonstrating remarkable skill that left India reeling.
This woeful total ranks as India’s third-lowest score in Test history, following their infamous innings of 36 against Australia in Adelaide in 2020. Previously, India’s lowest home score was 75 against the West Indies in 1987.
The defeat comes on the heels of a successful 2-0 Test series win over Bangladesh, with a full-strength Indian lineup fielded against a seasoned New Zealand side, which had already faced challenges on their subcontinental tour.
As cricket fans around the world absorb the shocking events, India’s performance raises questions about team form and strategy heading into future matches, marking a significant moment in test cricket history.
