India hit a 37-year-old low with the loss in Bengaluru
Photo : AP
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- India hit a new 12-year-old low in Bengaluru
- India face an uphill challenge to qualify for the WTC final
- The second and third Test will take place in Pune and Mumbai
The Indian cricket team made a nightmare star to their home series against New Zealand after losing the opening Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru by eight wickets. The restult means the hosts are 1-0 down in the series with two matches left which will take place in Pune (October 24-28) and Mumbai (November 1-5).
The result has put India's incredible record of winning 18 home series in a row under major threat and also put their hopes of qualifying for the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) under major jeapardy with a five-match Test series away to Australia coming up next.
India Hit 37-Year-Old Low
As a result of the loss in Bengaluru, the Rohit Sharma-led side have lost two home Test matches in 2024 having also faced defeat in the series opener against England at Hyderabad in January. This marks it the first time in 12 years that the Indian team have lost two Test matches at home in the same calender year.
Previously, India lost two Tests in the same year in 2012 when they lost back-to-back Tests against England in Kolkata and Mumbai under MS Dhoni's captaincy. That series remains the last India lost at home in the longest format.
Having played their first Test at home in 1933, 2024 is only the 18th year in history in which multiple Tests in the same year. Previously, India were defeated in two Test matches at home in 1952, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1966, 1969, 1974, 1977, 1983, 1987, 1999, 2000, 2004, and 2012. They also lost three Tests in 1969 and 1983.
Morever, the defeats to England and New Zealand mean, 2024 is the first time that India have lost two home tests against different teams in the same year in 37 years. The last time the same happened was in 1987 when they lost to Pakistan in Bengaluru and West Indies in Delhi.
In 1999 (Pakistan), 2000 (South Africa), 2004 (Australia), and 2012 (England); India lost multiple home tests but on each occasion, it was to the same opponent.
The only other instance of India losing at home to different opponents in the same year came in 1952 (England, Pakistan), 1959 (Australia, West Indies), and 1969 (Australia, New Zealand.
Overall, India have played 292 Tests at home in Test history and lost only 56 while winning 120 and drawing 115. One game (against Australia in Chennai, 1986) also famously ended in a tie.
The result also means Rohit Sharma has lost three Tests as captain at home after taking charge of the team in 2022 which more than his predecesor Virat Kohli (2) did in his seven-year stint from 2015 to 2022.
The defeat in Bengaluru was India's first defeat at home to New Zealand since 1988.
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