India's batting once again collapsed on foreign soil after a combination of tight bowling and rash shots led them to crawl to a score of 250 largely due to the brilliance of Cheteshwar Pujara.
Electing to bat first after winning the toss, the Indian top order seemed to have forgotten they were playing a Test match as they looked in a hurry to score quick runs and chase wide deliveries which led to their quick downfall.
KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, and Virat Kohli fell playing away from their body and got caught behind while Rohit Sharma departed looking to hit Nathan Lyon for a six.
Tired and almost disgusted at the familiar sight, Twiteratti made their emotions clear to the Indian batsmen picking youngster RIshabh Pant as the scapegoat.
Just as he is about to go out to bat, someone must whisper into Pant’s ear “Test cricket, not IPL”.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 6, 2018
Rishabh Pant enjoy the next 5 days, you aren’t playing another game this series #AUSvIND
— Andrew Bailey (@bail3yy) December 6, 2018
Could Dinesh Karthik be fed to Rishabh Pant? #AUSvIND
— ShikharChaturvedi (@shikharaap) December 6, 2018
Patience = Pujara
— Raajan Barvadia (@RaajanB) December 6, 2018
Stupidity = K L Rahul
Brainfade = Rohit Sharma
Immaturity = Rishabh Pant
Exception = Kohli
The scenario of first test. #AUSvIND
Rishabh pant so called "Future" of India cricket. I think this "Future" is going to last as long as his innings. #AUSvIND #INDvsAUS #CricketMeriJaan #cricbuzzlive
— Keval Chaudhari (@keval_c) December 6, 2018
#RishabhPant is like mutual funds these days. Invest kiye jao, profit kab dega pata nahi. #AusvInd #IndiavsAus
— A (@leosamit) December 6, 2018
Indian can’t win a match away from home till we have KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant playing for us. #AUSvsIND
— Ashwatthama (@Pungebaaz) December 6, 2018
Rishabh Pant under the guidance of this reckless Ravishastri is bound to fail at test levels. 100-5 on Scoreboard in a test match and our dear pant goes into T20 mode #INDvsAUS
— Manjunatha Thumpiri (@manju1438) December 6, 2018
What's more important to get selected into the Indian cricket team ??#BCCI #AUSvIND #KLRahul #Rahane #India #AUSvsIND #INDvAUS #IndvsAus #Australia #pujara #Kohli #ViratKohli #PAKvNZ #tattoo #RanjiTrophy #IPLAuction #OPPOR17Pro #AdelaideTest #poll #BabasahebAmbedkar #Opinion
— #MeToo (@lndiaMeToo) December 6, 2018
Thank you rahul you will be definetly NOT missed#KLRahul @klrahul11 #AUSvsIND #Pujara #india pic.twitter.com/ALiIa5u3ME
— Laxman gutte (@Laxman37594771) December 6, 2018
KL Rahul is jawdroppingly overrated! Why can't Mayank Agarwal get a chance? @bcci @CricbuzzApps
— Mandar (@mandar_ch) December 6, 2018
Meanwhile, Cheteshwar Pujara scored a patient century becoming the first Indian to score a century in Australia on day 1. His innings of 123 endeared him to the fans as it managed to guide India to a respectable score at the end of the first day's play.
Pujara you beauty! ? @cheteshwar1 #AUSvIND
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 6, 2018
This Chesteshwar Pujara innings is worth an IPL orange cap earned over 14 games in 8 weeks across the country. But this man won’t get a contract. So we must find a way to acknowledge and compensate his excellence. #AUSvsIND
— Rahul Fernandes (@newspaperwallah) December 6, 2018
Like in Southampton when he got a 100, Pujara attacks only when he starts running out of partners. While others attack on instinct and out of insecurity. Well played Pujara. ???#MindOverMatter
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 6, 2018
Che Pujara...Take a bow ?♂️ #AusvInd
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 6, 2018
Even former Australian players like Shane Warne, Michael Clarke, and Mitchell Johnson appreciated Pujara's innings.
Terrific innings from Pujara or “Steve” as the Yorkshire men called him as they couldn’t pronounce his first name Cheteshwar ! Congrats on a great ? ?
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) December 6, 2018
Pujara ?????????????? ? brilliant innings!
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) December 6, 2018
Brilliant day 1 ?? #AUSvsIND Bowlers ✅ Khawaja catch ✅ Cummins run out ✅ Pujara ✅ Big day 2 tomorrow, can’t wait ??
— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 6, 2018
Pujara was eventually dismissed when he ran himself out and the day finished with India at 250-9 with Mohammed Shami at the crease and Jasprit Bumrah set to join him when play resumes tomorrow morning.
