Published By: Sanchari Das

IND vs. NZ Test: Duck Tales Ft. India’s Maximum in a Test Innings

India's recent test cricket history has been marred by a string of embarrassing collapses

In a shocking display of poor batting, India slumped to a historic low in Test cricket against New Zealand in Bengaluru during the first test in 2024. On a seam-friendly pitch, under overcast skies, India chose to bat first, a decision that quickly turned into a nightmare. What followed was a collapse as India was bowled out for 46 runs in just 31.2 overs—their lowest-ever total in a home test.

In the wake of the incident, we recall some of the Test innings when India witnessed several of its players going out for a duck. 

The top order crumbled as New Zealand's bowlers, particularly Matt Henry, tore through the lineup. By the time the lunch break was taken, India was reeling at 34/6 and could only add 12 more runs in the second session before being completely bowled out. This dismal batting performance stunned cricket fans as New Zealand's precision bowling ruthlessly exposed India's powerful batting order. It was embarrassing, marking one of the darkest days in India's Test cricket history at home.

Five ducks against New Zealand in 2024

India's collapse in the 2024 Test against New Zealand was highlighted by an unfortunate record: five Indian batters were dismissed for ducks, a rare and unwanted feat. This was only the second time India registered five ducks in a Test innings at home, a statistic that underlines how deeply the team struggled. With half the team failing to score, it was clear that India's batting lineup couldn't cope with the conditions or New Zealand's relentless bowling.

While Kohli and Ashwin's dismissals could be attributed to some exceptional deliveries, poor shot selection was the downfall for the other batters. The top eight batters struggled to survive in the middle, with a combination of sharp seam movement and extra bounce making life difficult. New Zealand's bowlers, particularly Matt Henry with his five-wicket haul, made full use of the conditions and ensured India's swift and brutal collapse.

Six ducks against South Africa in 2024

Another catastrophic batting collapse for India occurred earlier in 2024, during the New Year's Test against South Africa at Cape Town. After a strong start, India faced a sudden batting disaster, becoming only the second team after Bangladesh to register six ducks in a Test innings more than once. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna all fell without scoring in a shocking turn of events.

Lungi Ngidi's spell proved decisive, triggering a collapse that saw India's score crumble from 153/4 to 173 all out. India's batters seemed incapable of handling the pressure, and the team suffered an embarrassing fall. While they managed to secure a victory in the end by seven wickets, the collapse remained a glaring flaw, underscoring India's vulnerability to high-pressure situations in challenging conditions.

Six ducks against England in 2014

India's history of multiple ducks in Test innings goes back further, with another infamous collapse coming in 2014 during the fourth Investec Test against England at Manchester. In one of their worst performances, six of their batters were dismissed for ducks, resulting in a crushing defeat by an innings and 54 runs. Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Pankaj Singh all failed to score as India was bowled out for 152 in their first innings.

England's bowlers, led by Stuart Broad and James Anderson, wreaked havoc, exploiting the conditions to perfection. India's struggles were compounded by poor shot selection, and despite a promising lineup, the team couldn't cope with the relentless pressure from the English attack. This match stands as one of India's most humiliating defeats in test cricket, with their inability to tackle swing and seam bowling becoming apparent once again.