Kiwis skittle India for 46, their lowest Test total on home soil

Global powerhouse India have stunned world cricket by being razed for 46 by New Zealand’s pace bowlers on a grassy pitch in Bengaluru, a matter of weeks before they will face similar challenges against Pat Cummins’ team in Australia.

Home skipper Rohit Sharma chose to bat first against the Black Caps, only to be swiftly bowled by Tim Southee and then watch as his team were obliterated for their lowest ever Test total at home, all out inside 32 overs.

When rolled for the same score in 1994, England’s Test side could console themselves with the fact they had been beaten up by Curtly Ambrose, one of the greatest of all fast bowlers. But India must live with the fact they have been levelled by the high-class but unheralded seamer Matt Henry (5-15) and tyro William O’Rourke (4-22), who was harshly dealt with by Australia in Wellington earlier this year.

New Zealand’s Matt Henry. Credit: AP

The Australians battled to defeat New Zealand in two Tests in similar conditions across the Tasman, where Steve Smith was challenged at the top of the order. But the extraordinary scoreline in India has demonstrated that India will be vulnerable to the moving ball this summer, after winning on these shores on each of their past two visits in 2018-19 and 2020-21.

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