'Played well only for county?' - Twitter unimpressed with Cheteshwar Pujara throwing away yet another start

England and India squared off for the rescheduled fifth Test match in Edgbaston, Birmingham, on July 1, Friday, and India were put to bat first after England captain Ben Stokes won the toss. Cheteshwar Pujara walked in with Shubman Gill to open the innings, and once again in the series, Pujara fell prey to pacer James Anderson.

Pujara was sent out to open today in the absence of their regular openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma. And for the fifth time, he was dismissed by Anderson in the series for a ball that was bowled in the corridor of uncertainty. Once again, he has been found wanting for not scoring big after spending considerable time out in the middle.

A new game, new position, but same old story for Pujara

Pujara was dismissed for 13 runs off 46 balls by a delivery that was swinging away from the middle and off-stump line onto the off-stump. Although one might say there was not much the Indian batter could have done but surrender to an unplayable delivery of Anderson, it is the same old story for Pujara.

In the ongoing series, Pujara has scored 240 runs in nine innings with two fifties and an average of 36.36, which does not make too bad a reading for a visiting batter in England. But what is concerning is that, time and again, Pujara has gotten out after consuming a lot of deliveries for scoring only a few runs. It looks as though he spends too much time negotiating the balls and gets dismissed without a big contribution.

An early lunch was called after rains stopped the play after 20.1 overs. Gill was also dismissed by the veteran pacer, Anderson, for 17 runs off 24 balls. Hanuma Vihari arrived at number three and is unbeaten with 14 runs off 46 balls. Virat Kohli arrived at number four and has scored 1* in seven balls. India will be keen to make a comeback and a lot will hinge on Kohli’s shoulders now. Meanwhile, the fans were not happy with Pujara for squandering yet another start.

Here’s how they reacted:

#ENGvIND why #BCCI keep on rplting d same mistakes by adding #pujara in to d test squad… Eventhough he is failing in each & every match & every innings.. do Indian squad doesn't have any other players ? Or purposely they dng dis ? looks so immature @cheteshwar1

— • » Dk « • (@itsme_dinu) July 1, 2022

Now Pujara bhai will score 50 in nxt innings and Fix is postion for bangladesh test tour🤣🤣 inform domestic Players like will still have to wait for 2-3 yrs pic.twitter.com/9oqiDO3E0x

— Gandulftheblack (@gandulftheblack) July 1, 2022

Pujara played well in county but why still fail to impress today on same soil? @SonySportsNetwk #AskTheExpert

— Santosh (@ssant100) July 1, 2022

Pujara is done and dusted.

— MayilaiMadhu (@Mayilaimadhu) July 1, 2022

@BCCI How long Pujara will be burden on team after constant poor performance by him. He seems to be very very influential person that no one dares to drop him. Really appreciate. Go ahead. Keep him in Indian team till he attends his age 75. Hats off to committee

— Indian2020 (@Indian202013) July 1, 2022

Pujara 1st innings scores this series
4
9
1
4
13
He was dismissed by Anderson in each of these five
innings. #ENGvsIND #pujara pic.twitter.com/AYfSp5Zo1D

— CRICKET (@cric8addictyash) July 1, 2022

Pujara ko bahar ka rasta kyon nahin dikhate Ho team se

— Shouaib Shouaib (@ShouaibShouaib4) July 1, 2022

Is this good choice to C Pujara As a opener ? If you have Mayank A in your squad ! @SonySportsNetwk #AskTheExpert

— Manav Rasge (@ManavRasge) July 1, 2022