Team India batsmen Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara’s poor run with the bat continued as they got cheaply yet again on day 3 of the 3rd Test against South Africa in Cape Town. Meanwhile, the visitors had an awful start to the third day’s play losing two of their mainstays in the batting.

India were stationed at 57/2 with captain Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara in the middle. Things took a drastic turn as the visitors lost Pujara only in the second ball of the day. Marco Jansen bowled a bounce that found Pujara’s gloves before Keegan Petersen grabbed a stunning catch at leg slip.

Ajinkya Rahane also followed the suit in the next over as Kagiso Rabada bowled an unplayable delivery that kissed the former’s bat onto Dean Elgar.

As soon as fans saw the two senior batters walk back to the crease at the start of Day 3, they started trending the word ‘Purane’ (mix of Pujara and Rahane) and urged the selectors to sack them.

Here are some of the reactions:

https://twitter.com/abhishe91414030/status/1481548602149580803?s=20

Thank you Purane Brothers for life pic.twitter.com/QRcVgcjb0K

— Ansh Shah (@asmemesss) January 13, 2022

Fans to rahane and pujara : #INDvsSA #PURANE pic.twitter.com/7D2wQEoHbn

— Prathamesh (@Memesrestic) January 13, 2022

List of reasons why Ajinkya Rahane should play next test series. #INDvsSA #PURANE pic.twitter.com/wWoy2ppdht

— Ritu🌻 (@EntropyPositive) January 13, 2022

https://twitter.com/ketakiisajoke/status/1481557058176819201?s=20

#PURANE Rahane to Pujara from last 6 months. pic.twitter.com/9qw8rhDqfK

— Ghanta (@aryanmalik285) January 13, 2022

Dravid and Kohli after backing #PURANE in the series.#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/PQMDP7MiKP

— T20WC22 bhul jao🏏 (@cricdrugs) January 13, 2022

After watching the batting of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteswar Pujara :-#PURANE #INDvsSA #AjinkyaRahane pic.twitter.com/lmhhsZ00N5

— Innocent Child (@bholaladkaa) January 13, 2022

https://twitter.com/Ocreativitigang/status/1481550335877738500?s=20

Virat Kohli-Rishabh Pant revive India after early collapse

Having lost Pujara and Rahane in the first couple of overs, it looked all doom and gloom for India, but Rishabh Pant just proved why he is one of the best in the business at present.

Virat Kohli played the patient game and frustrated the bowlers while Pant took the aggressive route with a lot of premeditated options. Indeed, it looks good when the shots come off, but the best thing about Pant’s knock is that he’s managed to upset the consistency of the South African seamers and launched Keshav Maharaj into the stands just before lunch and secured a 143 runs lead.

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