Thu Oct 17 09:15:06 UTC 2024: ## India Humiliated by New Zealand in Bengaluru, Bowled Out for 46
**Bengaluru, India:** In a shocking turn of events, India suffered a humiliating defeat on Day 2 of the first Test against New Zealand, being bowled out for a paltry 46 runs. This is India’s lowest ever Test total at home and their third-lowest in Test cricket history.
The collapse began early on Thursday morning as veteran New Zealand pacer Tim Southee claimed the prized wicket of Indian captain Rohit Sharma in the opening hour. From there, the Indian batting line-up crumbled under relentless pressure from the Kiwi pace attack, particularly William O’Rourke and Matt Henry.
Five Indian batsmen were dismissed for ducks, including Virat Kohli, who was surprisingly sent in at number 3. The decision to bat first under overcast skies on a pitch that had been under covers for days due to rain proved disastrous for India.
“It’s important that you need to adapt,” commented former India captain Anil Kumble, expressing his disappointment with the batting performance. “There’s talk about getting wins. Yes, the bowling attack is fantastic. But the batters, you need to think about how to manage in these conditions for India to get to a better situation.”
India’s tactical blunders extended beyond the batting order. Their decision to bowl first after winning the toss meant missing an opportunity to take advantage of New Zealand’s shaky confidence following their recent losses.
Despite the low score, Rishabh Pant provided a glimmer of resistance with a score of 20. However, he fell victim to Matt Henry, who ultimately claimed five wickets in the innings, ending the Indian innings in just 31.2 overs.
This crushing defeat serves as a stark reminder of the challenges India faces when playing on green pitches. With the remaining two Test matches still to come, the Indian team will need to regroup and learn from this humbling experience if they wish to salvage the series.
First Piper 