Cricket

India's Humiliating Collapse: Lowest Test Total at HomeThe Indian cricket team endured a catastrophic collapse on Thursday, registering their lowest-ever Test total at home against New Zealand in Bengaluru. After rain washed out the opening day, India opted to bat first in overcast conditions, a decision that proved disastrous.The Indian batting lineup crumbled under the relentless pressure of New Zealand's pace attack. Five batters—Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and R Ashwin—were dismissed for ducks, while openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal managed only 2 and 13 runs, respectively.Rishabh Pant emerged as the top-scorer with a meager 20 runs, highlighting the team's abysmal performance. The collapse sparked widespread criticism on social media, with fans and pundits calling for the return of veteran batters Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara.At lunch, India was reeling at 34 for 6, and their slide continued after the break. R Ashwin and Pant fell in quick succession, followed by Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav, who contributed only 1 and 2 runs, respectively.The humiliating collapse has raised serious questions about India's batting depth and the team's ability to perform under pressure. The selectors' decision to move on from Rahane and Pujara has come under scrutiny, as the younger players have failed to live up to expectations.