Ahead of the start of the third Test between South Africa and India at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Cheteshwar Pujara was in the news for his two run-outs during the Centurion Test.
Pujara had come under a fair bit of criticism for throwing his wicket away to run-outs. At lunch on the first day of the third Test, he was in the news again – but for a different reason.
After Virat Kohli won the toss and explicably opted to bat first on a green surface, India lost their openers in the first hour itself. Pujara came to bat with an intent to not get out early but it came at the expense of something else – runs.
As Pujara blocked and blocked on his way to a half-century of balls without scoring a run, Twitter got a little impatient...and witty.
Pujara is like a person who walks into a bank without an Aadhaar number.
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) January 24, 2018
Just can't open his account.
Pujara is practising abstinence.....
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 24, 2018
Some witty person just said: Pujara is doing his best to avoid getting run out again, by not attempting any runs.
— Rahul Fernandes (@newspaperwallah) January 24, 2018
Couldn't accuse Pujara of having one eye on the IPL auction! #SAvIND
— Paul Dennett (@the_summer_game) January 24, 2018
Pujara costs 75L in IPL, just in case you were wondering! #IndvSA
— Retard no more! (@AbhishekJSoni) January 24, 2018
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Ironic cheers for Pujara as he saunters across to the other end in the 45th ball he faced ... Only to have the umpire signal leg bye! Still on 0 then. #SAvIND
— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) January 24, 2018
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Watching Pujara Bat, right now. pic.twitter.com/PcqJodMfK0
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) January 24, 2018
Pujara's innings#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/N3OTPbWe42
— Bollywood Gandu (@BollywoodGandu) January 24, 2018
50 up for Pujara.
— Dennis Philander (@DennisCricket_) January 24, 2018
Balls.
No runs scored
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Then, it happened. Pujara was off the mark – on the 54th ball he faced. The 29-year-old received loud cheers from the crowd after opening his account and he responded with a good laugh, as did his teammates.
Loud cheer for Pujara.... almost as if he got a half-century already and not his first run. Good to see smiles in the Indian dressing room. He has left the ball well so far, despite being beaten at odd times. #SAvInd
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) January 24, 2018
Dressing room scenes when Pujara scored his first run 😂 pic.twitter.com/J2aZEqrvKG
— Suresh (@srtxt7) January 24, 2018
Most balls to get off the mark for India in Tests:
— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) January 24, 2018
57 R Chauhan v SL Ahmedabad 1994
54 C Pujara today
World record: 80 balls J Murray Eng v Aus Sydney 1963
Cheteshwar Pujara needed around 80 minutes to score his first runs today.
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) January 24, 2018
Indian Record: Rajesh Chauhan (84 minutes) in 1994 against Sri Lanka. #SAvIND
54 balls for first run for Pujara , time enough for McCullum's fastest Test hundred.
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) January 24, 2018
Twitter, of course, was at it again.
Kids: Bets on match wins
— Godman Chikna (@Madan_Chikna) January 24, 2018
Adults: Bets on Runs
Legend: Bets on Pujara's 1st runs
On the Scale of "Pujara's inning to Dhoni's Stumping" How fast are you?#SAvIND
— Akram 🇮🇳 (@akramismm) January 24, 2018
Mom : khana khake jaa beta
— Tweetera🐦 (@DoctorrSays) January 24, 2018
Pujara : nahi maa waha ball khaunga.#INDvSA
Pic 1: When Pujara comes in to bat
— KAJALaneNENU🇮🇳 (@BanarasiBasanti) January 24, 2018
Pic1: When Pujara scores his first run#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/DhIKdPcMIV
Indian Media: Pujara takes a single in 54 balls, see how Taimur reacted. #SAvIND
— Silly Point 🏏 (@FarziCricketer) January 24, 2018
Pujara loses virginity after 54 deliveries. My life was a bit like that. Was worth the wait though.
— Peter Lalor (@plalor) January 24, 2018