On the fifth and final day of the Centurion Test between South Africa and India, Cheteshwar Pujara needed to be the central figure for his team as they aimed to chase 287 to keep the series alive. But what happened in the early part of the morning session was quite the opposite as Pujara ran himself out.
The right hander’s dismissal in this fashion in the second innings means, he now has the unenviable record of being the only Indian batsman to have been run out in both innings of a Test match. The last time a batsman was run out in both innings was New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming in 2000. Pujara’s now also becomes the 25th batsman to be be run out in both innings of a Test match.
Pujara who was looking to complete a quick third run with partner Parthiv Patel is not among the quickest batsmen and was caught out by a combination of Lungi Ngidi, AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock. Pujara who well inches short of his crease was dismissed for 19 with India in deep trouble at 49/4.
In the first innings also Pujara was out for a golden duck was run out after debutant Lungi Ngidi’s direct hit found him short of his crease. Pujara’s decision to go for a quick third run came as a shock to most with even Michael Holding reacting in commentary saying, “Pujara is not the quickest between the wickets – in fact, that’s being kind. He’s ultra slow.”
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