'I Am Hurting To See This Score As Captain': Rohit Sharma Blames Himself After India All Out For 46

Indian captain Rohit Sharma took full responsibility for his team's dismal performance in the first Test against New Zealand, admitting that he was "hurting" after India was bowled out for a record-low of 46 runs.

Also Read: Delhi Capitals unveil new coaching staff ahead of IPL 2025; Rao, Badani come onboard

Rohit Sharma blames himself for Bengaluru debacle

Rohit Sharma 's decision to bat first in overcast conditions in Bengaluru backfired, as the Indian innings lasted just 31.2 overs, with five batters failing to open their account.

"I am hurting to see this score of 46 as a captain as it was my call to bat first. But one or two bad calls in a year is quite alright," Rohit Sharma said at the post-match press conference.

This embarrassing total marked a new low for India, as they failed to cross the 50-run mark in a Test innings at home for the first time. The previous record for India's lowest Test innings total at home was set 37 years ago against the West Indies in Delhi.

Also Read: Mohammed Siraj SLEDGES Devon Conway During Bengaluru Test Between India-New Zealand | WATCH

Meanwhile, Devon Conway extended New Zealand's advantage with a steely 91, steering them to 180 for three at stumps on day two of the first Test here on Thursday.

Daryl Mitchell (14) and Rachin Ravindra (22) were manning the crease at stumps as Kiwis built a lead of 134 runs.

Much before Conway’s batting masterclass, the New Zealand pacers created their own thunder under gloomy Bengaluru skies.

The duo of Matt Henry and William O’Rourke used their high release point to generate disconcerting bounce from hard lengths, which the India batters found tough to negotiate.

However, it was Tim Southee's wobble seam and fuller length that helped New Zealand gain the first breakthrough.

Southee castled Rohit, who opted rather inexplicably to bat first in conditions which were more Christchurch than sub-continental, with a nip-backer.

Even at that point, a slip-up akin to that 36 all out in Adelaide was unimaginable.

However, that horror script from three years ago found an encore here, as India were all out shortly after lunch, comfortably beating the previous lowest of 75 they made against the West Indies at New Delhi in 1987.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, who stood a foot outside the crease to nullify swing, was all at sea against Henry in this period.

Virat Kohli (0) walked in at the rather unfamiliar No. 3 slot, but his stay was snapped after nine balls.

Latham introduced O'Rourke and the pacer immediately netted the big fish.

Kohli looked to jab a climbing delivery towards the on side but he was not in control as the ball deflected off his gloves en route to Glenn Phillips at leg gully.

Sarfaraz Khan, who came into the playing eleven after a stiff neck forced Shubman Gill to sit out, was in no mood to hang around.

On the third ball he faced, the Mumbai power-hitter tried to slap Henry over mid-off but Conway made a leap of faith to grab the ball.

At 10 for three, a lot depended on Pant (20) to bail India out of this spot of bother.

Pant, who was dropped on 7 by stumper Tom Blundell off O'Rourke, got India's first boundary of the day in the fifth ball of the 12th over, a smash through the covers off the same bowler.

But Jaiswal's patience did not pay off (13, 63 balls) as he fell to O'Rourke with Ajaz Patel completing a stunning catch at point.

The dismissals of KL Rahul and Jadeja pushed India further to the wall at 34 for six at lunch, and it all ended a few minutes into the second session.

(With PTI inputs)