India’s loss in the third test was shambolic. No one had expected India to perform so abysmally after completely dominating the second test. In the first innings, there was a batting collapse starting with the openers. Rahul departed cheaply. Post that, Kohli and Pujara were also lost without much fanfare. Sharma and Rahane attempted to rebuild but were undone.
The tail perished without putting up any fight. The second innings were slightly better. After England posted a mountain of runs, India did attempt a fightback. Sharma, Kohli, and Pujara played handy innings but there was a complete collapse on the fourth day.
We look at the lowest totals India has put up in tests ever since Kohli took up the captaincy baton in 2014.
1. 3rd test vs England, 2021
In the just-concluded Test, India was completely at sea. After winning the toss, Kohli decided to bat. The team was all-out in about two sessions for a total of 78. India got off to a horrid start after losing the in-form Rahul for a duck. Pujara and Kohli also followed suit after getting out to single-digit scores. Rahane and Sharma mounted a defense by scoring 18 and 19 respectively, but it did not last long. The tail was wiped out soon enough.
2. 1st test vs Australia, 2020
It was the first test of the much spoken about series. The first match was played at Adelaide and India and Australia went in the neck to neck in the first innings. India went into the second innings with a 53 run lead. However, India was bowled out for 36 with Shami being retired hurt. Not a single player could score in double digits with Mayank Agarwal being the highest scorer at 9 runs. This was India’s lowest test total.
3. 2nd test vs England, 2018
India was touring England for the first time under Kohli’s captaincy. The team was much stronger than the previous team that toured England. Kohli also had a personal point to prove after a horrible tour in 2014. However, India lost the first test very closely. Therefore, there was hope that they would fight back and win the second one. However, what ensued was complete humiliation of the Indian batting line in both innings. In the first innings, India batted first and put up a paltry 107 runs in less than 36 overs. Vijay was gone for 0. Kohli, Rahane, Hardik Pandya, and Karthik all failed to score. Ashwin provided some resistance by scoring 29.
In response, England put up a humongous 396 runs. Bairstow got a 93 and Woakes scored a scintillating 137. India needed to score big and give England a lead to defend the match. That was not. India was again all-out for 130 in the second innings. England won by an innings and 159 runs. Vijay got a pair. Karthik got a duck. Pujara, Rahane, and Kohli failed to click. The lower order was done before they knew.
4. 2nd test vs New Zealand, 2020
India was touring New Zealand after long. They faced a drubbing in the first match which the hosts won comfortably. In the second game, India scored a respectable 242 with 50s from Shaw and Pujara. They had a first-innings lead of 7 runs. However, in the second innings, India could only manage 124 runs. The top and middle-order completely failed to click. There was hardly any contribution from the big guys. Jadeja scored a 16 and Pujara top-scored with a 24. The Kiwis comfortably chased it down and won by 7 wickets and in effect whitewashed the series.
