IND vs SA: Twitter Bemoans As Cheteshwar Pujara And Ajinkya Rahane's Poor Form Continues
Indian batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane endured dismal failures in the first innings of the Johannesburg Test as India sank in the first session on Day 1.
After another decent start from the openers, Pujara walked in on a spicy pitch with high bounce and seam movement. He played a typically slow inning where he was on the defensive right from the start, barely showing any intent.
The South African bowlers seized the opportunity and dried up the runs completely from both ends. Eventually, Pujara succumbed to a delivery he could have left, as he ended up offering a dolly of a catch to gully off returning bowler, Duanne Olivier.
After showing glimpses of his old self in the first innings of the Centurion Test, Rahane got out for a first-ball duck, following in Pujara’s footsteps. To an innocuous delivery, Rahane went feeling for it outside off stump and ended up paying the price.
He managed a thick outside edge that went to the right of the third slip where Keegan Petersen took a good catch diving to his right. It was the first instance in Rahane’s career where he was dismissed for a golden duck.
With players like Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer showing great potential, it might well be time to look past the two senior pros in the team. Their run of form has been overshadowed by how good the Indian lower order has become. However, Twitter believes it’s time to see the duo head back to domestic cricket.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to failures for Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane:
Last legs. Both Pujara and Rahane #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->s<!---->S<!---->A
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
Now Ajinkya. Questions louder. #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->s<!---->S<!---->A
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
Gill at 3 from the next test series, the future is now. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->j<!---->f<!---->U<!---->o<!---->Z<!---->r<!---->R<!---->7<!---->H<!---->3
— ???????? (@Kohliesque) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
I think Pujara & Rahane have become Purane.
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
Ajinkya Rahane when he meets Cheteshwar Pujara playing in Ranji matches against him after the South Africa series!#<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->s<!---->u<!---->y<!---->5<!---->p<!---->E<!---->D<!---->e<!---->K<!---->u
— Vishal Verma (@VishalVerma_9) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
Pujara an Rahane still going through the horrors. Runs not forthcoming and three wickets have fallen. Splendid first session for SA
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
No score is bigger than friendship. Rahane got out even before we start criticizing Pujara. A true friend shielding another. ❤ #<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane has failed to perform on a consistent basis since 2020. Failures after Failures. ?
Whole India to Them:#<!---->S<!---->A<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->w<!---->u<!---->Z<!---->c<!---->l<!---->z<!---->R<!---->P<!---->B<!---->U
— Nitesh Chauhan ?? (@Nitesh_Chauhan7) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
Pujara and Rahane,
Its time to go. ⌛#<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->s<!---->S<!---->A p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->I<!---->M<!---->j<!---->R<!---->9<!---->q<!---->t<!---->H<!---->w<!---->x— Kshitij Sharma. (@_ghostcookies) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
Why doesn't anyone drag Vikram Rathore for dip in the form of Pujara, Rahane, Virat ever since he took over. He couldn't also fix Iyer's weakness against short pitch balls, Left armers ke against Mayank bhi baar baar expose ho raha..kis baat ka batting coach hai ye?
— ayaan. (@AyanMusk) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
At some point, somebody will have the courage to accept Pujara and Rahane must go. Their replacements might fail too, no one can guarantee success but you can't keep picking on two players who have shown no signs of resurgence.
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
