The Indian batsmen were on a hiding to nothing.

那些印度（也可能是印地安）球员毫无打赢（成功或胜利）的希望（或印度队将一败涂地）。
batsman:（尤指板球）击球手，球员（a batter, esp. in cricket,a player at bat in cricket and baseball..）
hiding 隐匿, 隐藏之事, 痛打, 隐匿之所，在这里意思为鞭打, 痛打
on a hiding被痛打，被打败（藏在一个地方为in a hiding）
to nothing ： (消失得)无影无踪，(破坏得)一无所存，（计划，努力等）毫无成效或完全失败
On a hiding to nothing：毫无成功失望（请看一段英语解释：Meaning：To be faced with a situation which is pointless, as a successful outcome is impossible. This is usually expressed in terms of a sporting contest in which one of two outcomes is foreseen, either a hiding or nothing. The 'to' in the phrase indicates alternative outcomes, as in terms like '6 to 1' or 'dollars to doughnuts'.

The phrase has two applications. One scenario would be that of a team which is expected to win easily but has the betting odds strongly in their favour that no kudos or reward, i.e. 'nothing' would be gained from victory. The other is that of a weak contestant who is expected to be beaten, i.e. get 'a hiding'.

请再看一些例句：
Their scheme came to nothing.他们的计划失败了。
The Indian footballers were on a hiding to nothing. They could not win.印度球员丝毫没有成功的机会，他们不能赢。
If you think the bank will lend you yet more money you're on a hiding to nothing.
如果你以为银行还会借给你钱，那你是毫无成功的希望的。