IND vs NZ: Team India create 'unwanted record' with Duck-laden innings vs New Zealand

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In a shocking turn of events that unfolded at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India suffered one of their worst batting collapses in Test cricket history during the first Test against New Zealand on Day 2 on Thursday (October 17).

The first day's play was called off due to persistent rain and much to the delight of the fans, the play resumed today. Unfortunately, the hosts were bowled out for just 46 runs, which marked their lowest-ever total at home in a Test match.

Five batters namely Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin were dismissed for ducks. The nightmare began with Virat Kohli, who was promoted up the order to bat at No. 3 due to Shubman Gill's absence.

Kohli, usually a dependable force was dismissed without scoring and Sarfaraz Khan, who replaced Gill in the playing XI, followed suit, getting out for a three-ball duck. The top order’s collapse quickly spilt over to the rest of the lineup as KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin were also dismissed for ducks.

In just a short span of overs, half of India's batting line-up was back in the pavilion. The rapid loss of wickets left the team unable to steady the ship and the rest of the batting crumbled under pressure. The entire innings lasted just over a session as the hosts were bowled out for a paltry score of 46, which is their lowest total at home in Test cricket.

A Look at India's History of Most ducks in a Test innings

This is not the first time India has experienced several ducks in a Test inning. The Bengaluru Test marked the sixth instance in history where five or more Indian batters were dismissed without scoring in the same innings.

• 6 Ducks vs England, Manchester, 2014 (1st innings)
• 6 Ducks vs South Africa, Cape Town, 2024 (2nd innings)
• 5 Ducks vs Australia, Adelaide, 1948 (3rd innings)
• 5 Ducks vs England, Leeds, 1952 (3rd innings)
• 5 Ducks vs New Zealand, Mohali, 1999 (1st innings)
• 5 Ducks vs New Zealand, Bengaluru, 2024 (1st innings)

What Went Wrong for Team India in Bengaluru?

The absence of Shubman Gill forced the team to shuffle their batting order, which disrupted the usual balance. Kohli, who hadn't batted at No. 3 in a Test match for eight years, struggled to get accustomed to the conditions.

The New Zealand pacers, led by Matt Henry and William O'Rourke exploited the unsettled Indian lineup with disciplinary bowling variations. Henry's early strikes set the tone and the other bowlers maintained relentless pressure throughout the game, leaving India without any answers.