New Zealand's fast bowlers, Matt Henry and William O'Rourke, joined forces to dismiss India for their lowest-ever home total of 46 on day two of the weather-affected first Test in Bengaluru on Thursday.
India were bowled out in 31.2 overs during the second session after choosing to bat in overcast conditions. The opening day of the Test was completely washed out. This marked India's third-lowest Test score ever.
India's previous lowest score at home was 75 against the West Indies in New Delhi in 1987. Their all-time lowest score is 36, which came against Australia in a pink-ball Test in Adelaide in 2020.
Rishabh Pant was the top scorer with 20 runs in an innings that saw five ducks, including that of star batsman Virat Kohli. Henry sealed India's innings with a five-wicket haul, with his last wicket being Kuldeep Yadav, marking his 100th Test wicket.
Tim Southee made the first breakthrough in the seventh over, dismissing India captain Rohit Sharma with a sharp inswinger after he had scored two runs. O'Rourke then struck in his first over, getting Kohli caught at leg gully without scoring, silencing the stunned home crowd.
Sarfaraz Khan came in at number four after replacing Shubman Gill, who had neck stiffness. However, he lasted only three balls, with Devon Conway taking a good one-handed catch at wide mid-off, leaving India struggling at 10-3 inside 10 overs.
There was a brief rain interruption, but India found no relief when play resumed. O'Rourke sent back Yashasvi Jaiswal, caught by Ajaz Patel for 13 with the score at 31. KL Rahul was another duck, caught behind by Tom Blundell, as India slumped to 33-5, and then 34-6 at lunch.
Wickets continued to fall, and soon after lunch, O'Rourke and Henry wrapped up the remaining four batsmen, aided by some excellent catching.
