5 instances of Indian batters recording 5 or more ducks in a Test innings ft. IND vs NZ 2024

India has had its fair share of highs in Test cricket. For a country known for its batting might, there have also been moments of complete disaster, where multiple batters have failed to even get off the mark.

Recording five or more ducks in a single Test innings is rare. Unfortunately, India has encountered this nightmare on several occasions. Most recently, in the ongoing opening Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, Indian batters faced another dismal outing as they were skittled out for just 46, registering five ducks in the process.

The ongoing game against the Kiwis is not the first time India has witnessed such a collapse. Over the years, similar disappointing performances have occurred against some of the top teams in the world. Whether it was facing a deadly bowling attack or crumbling under difficult conditions, these innings are such to forget in Indian Test cricket history.

We look at five such instances, including the recent debacle in Bengaluru.

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5 instances of Indian batters recording 5 or more ducks in a Test innings

#5 AUS vs IND, 1948

In a Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval in 1948, India faced the legendary Aussie side led by the great Don Bradman. The hosts posted a massive total of 674 in the first innings, following which, the visitors put up a brave effort to score 381 runs in their first innings.

However, things went downhill in India's second innings. Five batters, including Lala Amarnath, Vinoo Mankad, Gogumal Kishenchand, Khandu Rangnekar and Coomandur Rangachari, were all dismissed without scoring.

Vijay Hazare scored a fighting century but the team was bowled out for 277, losing the game by an innings and 16 runs.

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#4 ENG vs IND, 1952

The opening Test of the four-match series between England and India at Leeds in 1952 saw the visitors lose five batters for a duck. The Indian team batted first and put up a decent total of 293. England then scored 334 runs and managed a 41-run lead.

India's second innings, however, turned out to be a complete disaster as they lost all of their first four batters without a single run being scored. Pankaj Roy, Datta Gaekwad, Polly Umrigar, and Vijay Manjrekar were all dismissed for ducks.

While Vijay Hazare and Dattu Padhkar fought with half-centuries, it was not enough as the hosts won the game by seven wickets. Gulabrai Ramchand was the fifth batter in the innings to be sent back for naught.

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#3 IND vs NZ, 2024

India's recent struggle against New Zealand in Bengaluru saw them register their lowest-ever Test total at home. On Day 2 of the ongoing first Test, India elected to bat first under overcast conditions.

The Kiwi pacers, led by Matt Henry (five wickets) and William O'Rourke (4 wickets), ripped through the hosts' batting lineup in just 31.2 overs.

India scored only 46 runs as five batters, including Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin, failed to contribute. In what was an embarrassing performance with the bat, only Rishabh Pant showed some resistance with his 49-ball 20.

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#2 ENG vs IND, 2014

In the fourth Test of India's tour of England in 2014, India's batting order collapsed horribly. Playing at Old Trafford, the visitors could only rack up 152 runs in the first innings. Deciding to bat first proved costly as six Indian batters were sent back for ducks.

Big batters such as Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Virat Kohli were all dismissed without scoring, with just eight runs on the board. Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Pankaj Singh also failed to score as Stuart Broad led England's charge with figures of 6/25.

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#1 SA vs IND, 2024

India faced another collapse earlier in 2024 against South Africa in Cape Town. The Proteas pacers were on song as six Indian batters were bowled out without scoring. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, and Ravindra Jadeja were dismissed for zero.

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill scored in the 30s while Virat Kohli contributed with a crucial 46. However, South Africa were quick to wrap up the Indian innings as pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna also got out for ducks.