Cheteshwar Pujara becomes victim of jokes & memes after taking 53 balls to get off the mark

Cheteshwar Pujara frustrated the South African bowlers in the first session as he kept leaving balls which were bound to go outside the offstump line

By: Arun Rawal |
January 24, 2018 5:54 pm

Cheteshwar Pujara, one of India’s most dependable Test cricket batsmen, gave Twitterati a reason to make memes on him. The batsman took 53 balls to score a run during the ongoing third and the last Test match at New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on January 24.

The right-handed batsman is known for his defensive game. One does not expect Pujara to go all guns blazing. His strike rate has always been a talking point.

On Day 1 of the third Test, Pujara waved his bat to the crowd after he opened his run account on the 54^th delivery of his innings. He also shared a light moment with Virat Kohli, who was batting with him at the other end.

Earlier, Virat Kohli won the toss and decided to bat first. India got off to a poor start as they lost their openers quickly. India were struggling when Pujara and skipper took the responsibility to stable the Indian innings.

Pujara took almost 90 minutes to score the first run off his bat. Had he played a few more balls he would have broken Rajesh Chauhan’s record of playing most number of balls before getting off the mark (for an Indian batsman).

Here are some of the reactions:

Watching Pujara Bat, right now. pic.twitter.com/PcqJodMfK0

— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) January 24, 2018

In parallel universe

Pujara playing with 100+ strike rate#IndvSA

— NARESH (@connect2ns) January 24, 2018

Pujara is like a person who walks into a bank without an Aadhaar number.
Just can’t open his account.

— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) January 24, 2018

Pujara brings up his fifty. Raises his bat to the crowd, acknowledges the dressing room and remarks his guard. Now on to the 100.

— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) January 24, 2018

I need Pujara’s level of chill in my life

— El Mago (@LonNkuhlu) January 24, 2018

Rare picture of Rahul Dravid with Pujara. #IndVsSa pic.twitter.com/Xsi0tcqP2x

— शिवम. (@Oye_Protein) January 24, 2018

When someone asks pujara to hit century.
Pujara : pic.twitter.com/RhNedD2Zv4

— Mask (@Mr_LoLwa) January 24, 2018

Pujara’s innings#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/N3OTPbWe42

— Bollywood Gandu (@BollywoodGandu) January 24, 2018

Pic 1: When Pujara comes in to bat
Pic1: When Pujara scores his first run#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/DhIKdPcMIV

— KAJALaneNENU (@BanarasiBasanti) January 24, 2018

Dressing room scenes when Pujara scored his first run pic.twitter.com/J2aZEqrvKG

— Suresh (@srtxt7) January 24, 2018

Best thing I like about Pujara is his confidence. Not saying because he is 0 off 46 balls. But because he has put himself on the IPL auction roster for 75 lakhs.

— I dont know anything. (@ABVan) January 24, 2018

Quality 50 by Pujara. What a knock. 0* off 50. pic.twitter.com/QNxDmsKOvN

— Srini Mama (@SriniMama16) January 24, 2018

Meanwhile Kohli to Pujara : #INDvSA #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/AiL925iUta

— Amazing Ekta™ (Eku) (@ekta_amazing) January 24, 2018

Cheteshwar Pujara
1. When he went in to bat.
2. By the time he opens his account pic.twitter.com/V6wArX9laZ

— Kuptaan (@Kuptaan) January 24, 2018

Chetesvar Pujara dedicated his fifty to Narendra Modi Government’s performance of last 4 years. #IndVsSA

— Kangana Ranaut (@RealQueenSimren) January 24, 2018

Somewhere between
*Pujara comes into the crease*
and
*Pujara scores his 1st run*
we all grew up…. pic.twitter.com/RYwYBSfOb0

— Navneet (@_farzi_doc_) January 24, 2018

Kids: Bets on match wins

Adults: Bets on Runs

Legend: Bets on Pujara’s 1st runs

— Godman Chikna (@Madan_Chikna) January 24, 2018

Pujara is promoting SRK’s Zero in South Africa #IndVsSA

— Abhishek #408 (@ImAbhishek7_) January 24, 2018

Kohli: Is the match going on at an SBI branch?

Pujara: No.

Kohli: Then why the hell is it taking you so long to open your account?#SAvIND

— Swagpur ka Choudhary (@ABChoudhary007) January 24, 2018

Things that can be completed in 90 mins.
1. Football match.
2. Hollywood movie.
3. Pujara getting off the strike.#SAvsIND @cheteshwar1

— Karan Sharma (@KaranbhaiSharma) January 24, 2018

Most balls before the first run in Tests since 2001:

61 Stuart Broad, England vs New Zealand, 2013
53 Cheteshwar Pujara, India vs South Africa, 2018
52 Faf du Plessis, South Africa vs India, 2015
45 Hashim Amla, South Africa vs India, 2015

Meanwhile, India were 100/ 3 when this report was filed. Skipper Virat Kohli (54) was the third batsman who returned to the pavilion.