India record lowest Test innings total at home, bowled out for 46 against New Zealand

Bengaluru: India were on Thursday bowled for just 46 runs in their first innings, their lowest total in a home Test on the second day of the rain-hit opening Test against New Zealand here.

Before the umpires called off play due to poor light, New Zealand scored 180 runs with loss of three wickets in 50 overs leading by 134 runs.

India’s previous lowest score at home was 75, recorded against West Indies in New Delhi in 1987. And India’s lowest Test score was 36 against by Australia in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Adelaide in 2020.

The Indian batters struggled to negotiate the conditions, folding in 31.1 overs. As many as five Indian batters returned without bothering the scorer Rishabh Pant top-scored for the hosts with his 20 off 49 balls. Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) was the only other batter to reach double digits.

Matt Henry (5/15), William O’Rourke (4/22), and Tim Southee (1/8) were in fine form, dominating the proceedings as India lost six wickets for just 34 runs during a stunning first session. In the second session, India could add only 12 runs, losing the remaining four wickets.

Brief Scores: India 1st innings: 46 all out in 31.2 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 13, Rishabh Pant 20; Matt Henry 5/15, William O’Rourke 4/22, Tim Southee 1/8). NZ: 180/3 (50), lead by 134 runs.