October 17, 2024: India endured a dismal collapse in Bengaluru on Day 2 of the first Test against New Zealand, getting bowled out for just 46 runs, their lowest-ever Test score at home.
For the first time in their cricket history, four of India’s top seven batters were dismissed for a duck in a home Test.
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Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, and Ravindra Jadeja all returned to the pavilion without scoring, while Ravichandran Ashwin added another duck to the total after being dismissed on the first ball of the second session.
New Zealand’s pacers, particularly Will O’Rourke, wreaked havoc on India’s batting lineup. O’Rourke extracted extra bounce from the pitch, making life difficult for the Indian batters.
Virat Kohli, who hadn’t registered a duck in 32 innings, was surprised by O’Rourke’s delivery, gloving it to Glenn Phillips, who took a remarkable catch at leg gully. Kohli’s last duck also came against New Zealand in 2021 at the Wankhede Stadium.
Sarfaraz Khan, finally getting his opportunity, also fell to a sharp catch by Devon Conway at extra cover. KL Rahul, similarly unsettled by O’Rourke’s aggressive bowling, fell after nicking a ball down to wicketkeeper Blundell. Jadeja became the fourth batter to record a duck with a miscued shot.
India’s tail tried to mount a resistance, but the relentless bowling from New Zealand’s seamers led to a swift end, with India being bowled out for 46. This performance marks a historical low for the team, intensifying pressure ahead of the remainder of the series.
