Cheteshwar Pujara on Sunday came into bat after opening batsman KL Rahul perished after a decent start. India were on 28 then and were slowly setting base as they looked to surpass South Africa’s total 335 on Day 2 of the second Test in Centurion.
Coming in to bat at No 3, Pujara was essential if the team hoped to dig deep and bat long. Unfortunately, the Saurashtra batsman uncharacteristically looked to pinch a quick single off the first delivery he faced.
As luck would have it, the call was ill-advised as the ball reached the mid-on fielder quickly who duly threw it at the non-striker’s end and found the stumps. Pujara was run-out first ball and wasn’t even in the frame when the bails were dislodged.
Twitter was aghast by the turn of events, but it wasn’t Pujara who faced all the heat, instead it was skipper Virat Kohli and his obsession with intent that came for considerable damnation.
Here’s a look at how the word “intent” became a major talking point:
Funny thing is, Pujara is not the “I have to get off the mark quick” kind of guy. This was a firm drive, the fielder was well up, not an obvious run. I wonder if he thought this was “showing intent”?
— Prem Panicker (@prempanicker) January 14, 2018
What was Pujara doing there? Showing intent?
— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) January 14, 2018
Suicidal run from Pujara first ball... This is what happens when you fill his head with that "intent" bullshit. #SAvInd
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) January 14, 2018
Intent showed by Pujara intentionally and immediately but it got him on the very first ball. What a word!#INDvSA
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 14, 2018
I like Pujara and Kohli so I feel a bit bad about this but great intent in that golden duck
— Ahmer Naqvi (@karachikhatmal) January 14, 2018
Cause and Effect:
— Srini Mama 💲 (@SriniMama16) January 14, 2018
Cause: Need more intent, need to play positive cricket and look to score runs all the time - Kohli
Effect: Pujara committing harakiri
Too much intent got Pujara.#SAvsIND
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) January 14, 2018
Kohli wanted INTENT, pujara hits it straight to mid-on is run out by 2 meters. #INDvSA
— Gav Joshi (@Gampa_cricket) January 14, 2018
How's that for intent, huh
— Nitin Sundar (@knittins) January 14, 2018
Peak intent has been achieved. Excellent.
— Srinath (@srinathsripath) January 14, 2018
Cause effect of the captain and his intent. #SAvIND https://t.co/eL0PDfnOo7
— Vishy (@vinoth_vishy) January 14, 2018
Is #Intent trending yet?#SAvIND Live Blog: https://t.co/kwFY0SOpEO pic.twitter.com/DpRgXZtWXq
— The Field (@thefield_in) January 14, 2018