'Either open with Pujara or drop him': Twitter on fire after India No.3 scores his slowest fifty

India vs Australia: Pujara’s fifty drew mixed reactions on Twitter but most were critical about the slow knock that India’s No.3 played, which many believed allowed Australia to put more pressure on the Indian batting line-up.

Twitter couldn’t keep calm after Cheteshwar Pujara scored his slowest ever fifty in Test cricket on Day 3 of the third Test match against Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

India's Cheteshwar Pujara reacts as he avoids a ball while batting during play on day three of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) (AP)

Pujara got to his fifty off 174 balls, beating his previous slowest one against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2018, which came in 173 balls. This was Pujara’s 26th Test fifty and the 8th one against Australia.

He now has six fifty-plus scores in Australia, which is joint most by an Indian No.3 batsman in Tests.

But what hurt India more was the fact that Pujara was dismissed almost immediately after getting to his fifty.

Pat Cummins bowled a brilliant delivery which just shaped away and got the outside edge of Pujara’s bat to sent India on the backfoot.

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Pujara was dismissed for 51 off 176 balls as India lost their sixth wicket in the pos-lunch session.

Pujara’s fifty drew mixed reactions on Twitter but most were critical about the slow knock that India’s No.3 played, which many believed allowed Australia to put more pressure on the Indian batting line-up.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Pujara’s slowest Test fifty

A total of 84 runs from 34 overs during the session, with lack of intent especially from Pujara, didn't help India's cause and Rahane's dismissal was purely due to the scoreboard pressure.

The Indian captain failed to get a move-on initially on a slow track where bounce became variable as the session progressed.

He did hit a cover drive and then tried to take on Nathan Lyon by lofting him for a six over long on.

However, Cummins bowled one where he got extra bounce in his off-cutter, cramping Rahane for room and he was played on. The duo added 32 runs in 22.3 overs and it didn't help the team in any way.

Had KL Rahul been fit, there could have been a case of Vihari getting dropped as he didn't show in any way that he was in control during his half an hour stay at the crease.

Pujara, at the other end, was bowled to an off-side field and he couldn't find ways of scoring. Even the drive through covers or the one wide off mid-on didn't fetch him boundaries. In the first 100 balls, he didn't have a single boundary.

The only notable shot that he hit during the session was a backfoot punch through covers off Lyon, which got him a boundary.

(With PTI inputs)