WATCH: Cheteshwar Pujara shoulder arms off Trent Boult delivery to register misjudged dismissal in Wellington Test

Cheteshwar Pujara shoulder arms off Trent Boult: The Indian batsman misjudged the line of Kiwi spearhead’s in-swinging delivery.

During the third day of the first Test of the ongoing India’s tour of New Zealand in Wellington, India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara wholly misread a delivery from New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult to walk back to the pavilion.

It all happened on the last delivery of the 32nd over when Pujara’s attempt of shouldering arms against a delivery from Boult saw him getting out.

Boult, who was bowling from around the wicket to the right-handed Pujara, was successful in bringing back the delivery into the batsman and eventually dismissing.

Just as the ball hit the stumps, Pujara seemed to have realized his miscalculation. Coming in to bat at No. 3 in the eighth over, Pujara ended up scoring 11 (81). Just when he appeared to get his eye in, his dismissal on the last delivery of the second session proved costly for the visitors.

Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane (25) and batsman Hanuma Vihari (15) saw through the day for India who scored 144/4 in 65 overs at Stumps. Still trailing by 39 runs, India need a monumental comeback to draw/win this match.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand were bundled out for 348 in 100.2 overs on the back of contribution from their lower-order batsmen in Colin de Grandhomee (43), Kylie Jamieson (44) and Trent Boult (38).

India seamer Ishant Sharma, whose participation in this match was not confirmed until the toss, registered his 11th Test five-wicket haul (22.2-6-68-5) to become the pick of the Indian bowlers in the first innings.

Cheteshwar Pujara shoulder arms off Trent Boult

pic.twitter.com/ZSls98FUhE

— Cricket Lover (@Cricket50719030) February 23, 2020

How Twitterati reacted:

Pujara doesn’t only test the patience of bowlers, but also viewers

— saurabh. (@Boomrah_) February 23, 2020

Pujara doing his best to stay longer on the crease to hide India’s weak link Virat Kohli. #NZvIND

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) February 23, 2020

What a big impact player Pujara is, he left the ball and everybody left the field.#NZvInd

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) February 23, 2020

What is the point Pujara playing 81 balls for 11 runs, and you know one good ball is all you need, disappointing, maybe Pujara is good to play at 6 when the team is in trouble rather than playing at 3 and pushing INDIA back with his strike rate #NZvIND

— Shiva (@shivabelieves) February 23, 2020

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About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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