Cheteshwar Pujara registered a first-ball duck in the first Test in Centurion. This was after KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal (60) added a 117-run partnership for the first wicket. Virat Kohli with his iffy natting form has replaced Pujara at the centre with Rahul looking solid.

Lungi Ngidi coming into bowl the 41st over, first struck, Agarwal on the line to be adjudged LBW on replay. He then bowled a delivery that had a bit more bounce and took off after hitting Pujara’s gloves for Keegan Petersen to complete an easy diving catch.

The ball after touching Pujara’s gloves also took the inside edge off his bat as it lobbed towards Petersen who did not make a mistake.

https://youtu.be/0Q8hHINvHUg

The Protean pacers have been getting true bounce on the Centurion pitch since they started bowling. Pujara despite his own iffy form was preferred over Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer both of who have been in form in recent times.

Aakash Chopra was especially critical of the form of both Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. However, the management decided to go on with the experienced duo given their previous experience of playing in South Africa.

Lungi Ngidi Clearly Cheteshwar Pujara’s Nemesis

Cheteshwar Pujara has now been out first ball twice in Test cricket:

run out by Lungi Ngidi at Centurion 2018
ct off Ngidi at Centurion 2021

— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) December 26, 2021

It's a Golden duck to start Cheteshwar Pujara's tour after Mayank Agarwal's departure.
#RSAvIND #SAvsIND #SAvIND #BoxingDay #BoxingDayTest #INDvsSA #BetwayTestSeries #Pujara pic.twitter.com/z7LUWtz2zt

— Extra Pace (@Extra_Pace) December 26, 2021

Was that extra bounce or had Pujara committed too early onto the front foot?

— Karthik Krishnaswamy (@the_kk) December 26, 2021

Pujara: Why should Rahane get all the criticism?

— Saahil Sharma (@faahil) December 26, 2021

Two back-to-back wickets for Lungi Ngidi. It's a Golden duck to start Cheteshwar Pujara's tour after Mayank Agarwal departure. South Africa is back in the match.#SAvIND #INDvSA #WTC #WTC23 pic.twitter.com/HwNBuVJe41

— ProBatsman (@probatsman) December 26, 2021

2018 Boxing Day Test
Cheteshwar Pujara Duck Out

2021 Boxing Day Test
Cheteshwar Pujara Duck Out*#INDvsSA

— CricBeat (@Cric_beat) December 26, 2021

One brings two!

Pujara is gone for a duck as Ngidi gets another one ☝️

Watch #SAvIND live on https://t.co/CPDKNx77KV (in select regions) 📺#WTC23 pic.twitter.com/1VDCpHNLRu

— ICC (@ICC) December 26, 2021

No.3 Indian batsman to Score Duck in SA Test

Sanjay Manjrekar (1992)
Sourav Ganguly (1996)
Cheteshwar Pujara (2018)
Cheteshwar Pujara (2021)*

(Dravid never Scored Duck in SA in his Whole Test Career)#INDvsSA

— S H E B A S (@Shebas_10) December 26, 2021

Cheteshwar Pujara has now been out first ball twice in Test cricket:

run out by Lungi Ngidi at Centurion 2018
ct off Ngidi at Centurion 2021

— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) December 26, 2021

Pujara: How is pitch behaving KL?
*after a delivery*
Pujara: How was pitch behaving Mayank? #SAvIND

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) December 26, 2021

This Pujara had no haters ❤️#SAvsIND #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/fHsiE57G20

— 🐐 (@FOREVER_VK_FAN) December 25, 2021

Should I react on Mayank's dodgy decision? Or talk about the fact that Pujara has outlived his long stay as well? Someone please tell me. #SAvIND

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) December 26, 2021

A golden duck for Cheteshwar Pujara, Lungi Ngidi removes him. India 2 down before Lunch.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 26, 2021

Was that extra bounce or had Pujara committed too early onto the front foot?

— Karthik Krishnaswamy (@the_kk) December 26, 2021

Aakash Chopra was especially critical of the form of both Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. However, the management decided to go on with the experienced duo given their previous experience of playing in South Africa.

“The biggest question for the Indian team is how many batters to play. I will not play Rahane even if you play six batters. I am going with Hanuma Vihari because you had sent him to South Africa, just to get some form and to get acclimatized, and he scored runs.”

“You gave Shreyas Iyer a debut and he made a century and a fifty and consolidated his position. Rahane, of course, is the senior guy but he is no longer the vice-captain. I would like to play six batters, and I would like to play Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari” he said.

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