IND vs NZ Test: India's batting collapses, New Zealand takes 134-run lead

The second day of the first Test between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru witnessed a dramatic turn of events as India was bundled out for just 46, their 11th lowest total in Test history. New Zealand, in reply, reached 180 for 3 at stumps, taking a 134-run lead over the hosts.

The Indian batting lineup crumbled against the pace and swing of Matt Henry and William O'Rourke, who shared nine wickets between them. Shubman Gill (14), Cheteshwar Pujara (0), and Hanuma Vihari (0) were dismissed without troubling the scorers. Rishabh Pant (25), the lone Indian batsman to show some resistance, fell after hitting three fours and a six.

On the other hand, New Zealand's top order put up a solid performance. Devon Conway led the charge with a well-made 91, while Will Young (40), and Kane Williamson (25) also made valuable contributions.

Despite the dismal batting performance, India has been given a glimmer of hope by R Ashwin, who finished with figures of 2/32. He dismissed both Henry Nicholls and Daryl Mitchell to keep India in the contest.

The match is evenly poised heading into the third day, with both teams having a chance to gain the upper hand. India needs to find a way to shore up their batting order, while New Zealand will look to build on their solid start.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the second day's play:

• India's batting woes continue: India's batting has been a cause for concern in recent times, and their performance in the first Test was another example of their struggles.
• New Zealand's pace duo shine: Henry and O'Rourke bowled with great discipline and accuracy, making life difficult for the Indian batsmen.
• Conway leads New Zealand's response: Conway played a superb knock to set the platform for New Zealand's innings.
• Ashwin provides hope for India: Ashwin's wickets have given India a lifeline in the match.

The third day of the match promises to be an engrossing one, with both teams aiming to gain an advantage. Can India recover from their batting collapse and level the series? Or will New Zealand consolidate their position and take a firm grip on the game? Only time will tell.