New Delhi: India’s Test specialist batsman Cheteshwar Pujara registered his first golden duck in red-ball cricket when he got run-out off the first ball he faced in the second Test against South Africa on Sunday. The Saurashtra batsman played 92 innings in Test cricket without ever getting out for a first-ball duck.Also Read - India vs New Zealand 2nd Test: Rain Threat Looms Over Test Match In Mumbai
In the ongoing India vs South Africa second Test at Centurion, Pujara proved out to be unlucky as he departed on the very first ball he faced, thus recording his first golden duck. Coming at no.3 to bat, Pujara flicked his first delivery only to get run out. He took on debutant Lungisani Ngidi, but a direct hit got the better of him. Also Read - IND vs NZ: India Bowling Coach Paras Mhambrey Sheds Light on Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara's Test Future
Overall, this was Pujara’s fourth duck in Test cricket. Interestingly, the last time Pujara was dismissed for no score, he was run out. It came in 2016-17 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Dharamsala. Also Read - IND vs NZ, First Test: Rachin Ravindra, Ajaz Patel's Stubborn Resistance Forces Thrilling Draw
Also, Pujara has been run out for the most number of times in Test Cricket since 2012 and the 29-year old has also been involved in five of the last six runout dismissals of Indians in Test cricket.
Meanwhile, India have once again found themselves in trouble after losing the top order cheaply. At the time of the filing this report, India have lost five wickets with Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya present on the crease. The visitors are still trailing by 159 runs.