On the second day of the first Test at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma’s choice to bat first proved costly as the home team collapsed to just 46 runs, marking their lowest-ever Test score on home soil against New Zealand.
After rain washed out the first day’s play, the Indian batting lineup struggled to adapt to the challenging conditions on Day 2, collapsing in just 31.1 overs. Five Indian players were dismissed without scoring including Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin, contributing to the team’s dismal total. Rohit Sharma was the first to be dismissed, bowled by Tim Southee for just two runs in the seventh over, sparking a dramatic Indian collapse. This slump was briefly slowed down by a 20-run stand between Yashasvi Jaiswal and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.
Rishabh Pant was the top scorer for India, managing 20 runs off 49 deliveries. Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) was the only other player to reach double figures in the innings.
Matt Henry (5/15), William O’Rourke (4/22), and Tim Southee (1/8) delivered a masterclass in bowling, dismantling India’s batting lineup as they lost six wickets for just 34 runs in a remarkable first session. India managed to add only 12 more runs in the second session before losing the final four wickets.
Unwanted history for India as they were bowled out for 46 by New Zealand on day two of the first Test in Bengaluru 😲 pic.twitter.com/8OwI5LyBAP
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 17, 2024
While this was India’s lowest score in a home Test, their lowest total in an away Test match is even more dismal. India was bowled out for just 36 runs by Australia during the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide in 2020. This score remains not only their lowest in away Tests but also the lowest in their overall Test cricket history. New Zealand holds the unwanted record of the lowest total ever in Test cricket, being bowled out for just 26 runs against England in 1955.
The top five Lowest scores by India at home
| India’s lowest score in Test cricket history at home | |||||||
| Team | Score | Overs | RR | Inns | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
| India | 46 | 31.2 | NA | 1 | vs New Zealand | Bengaluru | 17-Oct-24 |
| India | 75 | 30.5 | 2.43 | 1 | v West Indies | Delhi | 25-Nov-87 |
| India | 76 | 20 | 3.8 | 1 | v South Africa | Ahmedabad | 03-Apr-08 |
| India | 83 | 38.5 | 2.13 | 4 | v England | Chennai | 14-Jan-77 |
| India | 83 | 27 | 3.07 | 1 | v New Zealand | Mohali | 10-Oct-99 |
| India | 89 | 54.2 | 1.63 | 2 | v New Zealand | Hyderabad (Deccan) | 15-Oct-69 |
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
