Cheteshwar Pujara began trending on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday as India suffered yet another dramatic batting collapse in the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati.

Fans flooded social media with nostalgic and sarcastic remarks after India, once comfortably placed at 95/1, crumbled to 141/7 by stumps. The implosion revived memories of Pujara’s absence in the longest format, with several users posting, “Once upon a time there was a player called Cheteshwar Pujara,” highlighting the void left by the veteran batter known for his grit and resilience.

 

 

India’s top and middle order faltered against disciplined spells from Marco Jansen and Simon Harmer, who shared seven wickets between them. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s fighting fifty was the lone bright spot before the Proteas seized complete control of the match.

The conversation around Pujara’s Test exclusion resurfaced instantly, with fans arguing that India’s recurring collapses underscore the need for a specialist like him in challenging conditions.

As India trail South Africa by a massive margin, social media continues to debate whether the team’s evolving batting template has come at the cost of losing its most dependable anchor in Test cricket.

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