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India falls to lowest home Test total after opting to bat against New Zealand

Indian captain Rohit Sharma, left, walks away after losing his wicket as teammate Virat Kohli walks onto the field

India captain Rohit Sharma (left) walks after being bowled for two as Virat Kohli comes in in his place – AP/Aijaz Rahi

India’s vaunted batting line-up was overturned for their lowest Test total at home, while the New Zealanders bowled them out for just 46 in Bengaluru.

After the opening day’s failure, India opted to bat first, but the move quickly backfired as they immediately found themselves in trouble at 10 for three, setting the tone for what was to come.

They recorded their third-lowest total in Test history (the lowest was 36 all-out in Adelaide in December 2020), their lowest in the first innings of a match (previously 58 all-out in Brisbane in 1947) and their lowest ever at home. In 1987, they were bowled out for 75 against the West Indies in Delhi.

Virat Kohli reacts to losing his wicket as he walks awayVirat Kohli reacts to losing his wicket as he walks away

Kohli was one of the five Indian batsmen dismissed for a duck – AP/Aijaz Rahi

Five Indian batsmen were dismissed for ducks, including Virat Kohli, who batted at No. 3 while Shubman Gill was unavailable. It was only the second time that five Indian players made a duck. Only two players, Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) and Rishabh Pant (20), reached double figures.

New Zealand needed just three bowlers in the 32-over innings – all Seamers. Matt Henry led the rout, taking stunning figures of five for 15 and taking a superb catch to dismiss Jasprit Bumrah from English-born rookie Will O’Rourke. To end Henry’s day, his fifth wicket concluded India’s innings and took him to 100 caps in Test cricket.

Matt Henry squats to make a beautiful catchMatt Henry squats to make a beautiful catch

Matt Henry takes a brilliant catch to dismiss Jasprit Bumrah – AP/Aijaz Rahi

Matt Henry dives to take a catch to dismiss India's Jasprit BumrahMatt Henry dives to take a catch to dismiss India's Jasprit Bumrah

Henry took five for 15 to reach 100 Test wickets – AP/Aijaz Rahi

O’Rourke was also excellent, taking four for 22, including the big wickets of Kohli and Jaiswal. The other wicket to fall was taken by Tim Southee, who set the tone by dismissing Indian skipper Rohit Sharma.

Southee recently stepped down as captain, making this a dream start as skipper for opener Tom Latham. New Zealand have had a difficult period, recently losing 2-0 in Sri Lanka and seeing their best batsman, Kane Williamson, ruled out of this Test due to injury.

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