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Cheteshwar Pujara’s rough patch continues in the Mumbai Test as the Rajkot-born player had to depart for a duck in the first innings of the Mumbai Test. After his dismissal, Pujara now tops an unwanted list of records. The 33-year-old now has the joint-most ducks for India in Test matches while batting at no.3.
The second Test match between India and New Zealand started in challenging conditions as both teams were forced to make changes in their side. Pujara who was expected to be dropped from the team was fortunate as Ajinkya Rahane was ruled out due to injury. Pujara though didn’t take full advantage of the opportunity as he was dismissed for a duck by Ajaz Patel. Pujara wanted to nullify the spin and advanced down the track. The left-arm spinner did not shorten his length and Pujara missed the ball on the full and got bowled.
The right-handed batter has now been dismissed eight times while batting at no.3, joint-most by any Indian player. He shares the record with former India captain Dilip Vengasarkar who was also dismissed eight times batting at the same position. India head coach Rahul Dravid is next on the list with seven ducks to his name. Things haven’t been great for the Saurashtra player who was once described by former coach Gary Kirsten as a ‘special player’. In his last 41 Test innings, he hasn’t crossed the triple-figure mark which also includes 20 consecutive innings on home soil.
It’s been more than four years since his last hundred in Test format on home soil when he scored 143 runs against Sri Lanka in November 2017. Although he has scored four Test hundreds in that period, all have come away from home in England and Australia. His last ton in Test cricket came in January 2019, almost three years ago.
The second innings of the Mumbai Test could prove to be the final straw for Pujara if he couldn’t find the form. His struggles could see him get axed from the squad that is due to travel to South Africa in the coming days if the series goes forward amidst fears of new Covid-19 variant. Pujara now faces an anxious wait, if he can board the plane to face the Proteas.
