India’s middle-order batter Cheteshwar Pujara and former vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane continued with their poor form in the ongoing second Test match against South Africa in Johannesburg. Ajinkya Rahane, who has been receiving criticism about his poor form for a long time, once again failed to leave a mark with his bat.
Rahane has failed to produce anything from his bat for a long time now, with his last century last coming on the Boxing Day Test match against Australia where he played a crucial knock of 112 runs. However, ever since then, Rahane has only scored 2- half-centuries in the 19 innings he has played. He averages just under 21 in the 13 Tests he played in the previous year.
Before coming into this game, several pundits and experts have even questioned his place in the playing XI, however, the Indian team management decided to back the veteran batter.
But to everyone’s dismissal, Rahane was dismissed on golden duck off a Duanne Oliver’s delivery. This was the first time in his Test career, that he got dismissed on a golden duck. He will be under serious pressure to perform with the bat in the second innings.
Rahane was dismissed on the very next ball that dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara. Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane haven’t been in the best of forms in 2021. They have failed to fulfill the expectations of the fans and the Indian team management, who have shown immense faith in the senior batters.
Meanwhile, fans on social media were left disappointed with the performances of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara. From cricketers, experts to fans, everyone took to Twitter to express their disappointment on Rahane’s poor form. There were many who came up with hilarious memes and jokes while trolling the former vice-captain.
Here, check out the reactions of Twitterati on this:
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane has failed to perform on a consistent basis since 2020. Failures after Failures. ?
Whole India to Them:#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/wuZclzRPBU
— Nitesh Chauhan ?? (@Nitesh_Chauhan7) January 3, 2022
Golden duck for Ajinkya Rahane. Duanne Olivier gets his second wicket of the innings.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 3, 2022
“Virat nahi hai toh kya hua, hum outside off stump ball khel lenge.” – Ajinkya Rahane
— Ishika (@IshikaMullick) January 3, 2022
Thank You Ajinkya Rahane and Thank You Cheteshwar Pujara??
BFFs Should Retire Together ??
pic.twitter.com/POmsOIKB7T
— Dr Khushboo ?? (@khushbookadri) January 3, 2022
Happy retirement Ajinkya Rahane from test Cricket ?#Rahane #SAvsIND #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/SHkQTdbP8O
— CRICKET VIDEOS ? (@AbdullahNeaz) January 3, 2022
Ajinkya Rahane is a beneficiary of playing for Bombay, he’ll get chances to play atleast 100 test match even after numerous of golden duck. pic.twitter.com/0Pj2HEJgEh
— Nitish Mishra?? (@nitishnmishra) January 3, 2022
Ajinkya Rahane’s below par returns in Asian conditions were fine till 2018, as he was one of India’s exceptional contributors in the first overseas leg.
But since 2018 in SENA, his average has come down to mid 20s: 1131 runs at an average of 27, with only 1 100 in 43 innings.
— Global Spot League (@GlobalLeagues) January 3, 2022
#INDvsSA #SAvIND #SAvsIND #INDvSA
Thank you for everything Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane but now: pic.twitter.com/4Np5BvxBOY
— Hemant (@Sportscasmm) January 3, 2022
Ajinkya Rahane loves to score golden duck ? When team needs him most ?#Rahane #SAvsIND #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/HyqNaqMeYM
— CRICKET VIDEOS ? (@AbdullahNeaz) January 3, 2022
Don’t worry, Guys.. Neither Cheteshwar Pujara nor Ajinkya Rahane will get dropped ?
Pujara will score 20(200) and Rahane will score 40(100) in the second innings, and will retain their place.. ?#INDvsSA
— Cricket Fanatic? (@cric8fanatic) January 3, 2022
Got out early so that KL and newcomer Vihari could learn to play under pressure and prepare for WTC final. Selfless leader and legend Ajinkya Rahane. pic.twitter.com/E6Nmx9qEb0
— T (@onfieldumpire) January 3, 2022
Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara got out on early in 2nd Test match
Meanwhile me..? #INDvsSA— Ashutosh Srivastava (@ashutosh_sri8) January 3, 2022
It would be interesting to see the @BCCI central contract terms for Ajinkya #Rahane & Cheteshwar #Pujara. I’m curious to check if both are under a guaranteed employment scheme until the age of 55. #INDvsSA
— Sreejith Panickar (@PanickarS) January 3, 2022
Rahane got a chance after Shreyas Iyer did THIS on his debut. Cant make sense of anything anymore pic.twitter.com/fMODc6CYdR
— MGT ERA?? ?? #PuraneOut (@awkdipti) January 3, 2022
Repeat after me:
Thank You Rahane
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) January 3, 2022
Talking about the game, apart from Ajinkya Rahane, the Indian side has also lost the wicket of Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara in the opening session.
