Cheteshwar Pujara as a batsman is a throwback to the eras gone by, not so much in technique - he is unusually bottom-handed for someone who pays his bills through Test cricket - as in temperament. He doesn't tire of scoring runs irrespective of the opposition or venue and his fitness is more about what is required for batting for long periods as opposed to bulging biceps carrying flamboyant tattoos.

At a time when India were looking to fill the void created by Rahul Dravid's retirement, Pujara stepped up to the task, slamming centuries against all three touring sides - New Zealand, England and Australia - and became the joint-fastest Indian to 1000 Test runs in 2011.

© Reuters

Since then, the rock-solid Pujara has been seen as the backbone of Indian cricket team's batting order in the longest version of the game. And, when India began their gruelling tour of South Africa, it's needless to say that the right-hander was expected to carry the weight of Indian batting in the three-match Test series.

But, forget about carrying the weight of his team, Pujara - for all his patience and skill - has undeniably struggled alongside his teammates to carry his own innings. In India's 72-run loss in the first Test, Pujara was only managed to score 30 runs across two innings.

© AP

If that wasn't enough, Pujara was sent back into the hut after being run-out without even scoring in the first innings of the second Test at the SuperSport Park In Centurion. The second innings proved no different, as the Indian batting mainstay once again got run-out at a lowly-score of 19 runs.

To make matters worse, the Indian batsman who has known nothing but to score big runs also notched up an infamous record. On the fifth day's play, Pujara's dismissal made him the first Indian player to get run-out twice in a Test match. Sadly, he also became the first player to be run-out twice in a Test in the 21st century.

© AP

The last cricketer to have achieved this ridiculous record was former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming who was run-out twice against Zimbabwe during the Wellington Test in December, 2000. That's not the kind of record anyone would like to claim, let alone a great batting genius like Pujara but the fact that he ended up achieving such feat sums up India's miserable outing in the Rainbow Nation.

Cheteshwar Pujara Becomes
ðFirst Indian Player
ð3rd In The World
ðFirst In 21st Century

To Be Dismissed Run Out In Both Innings Of A Test Match. Thank You Pujara. ððªð®ð³ #INDvSA #INDvsSA #SAvIND #SAvsIND

— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) January 17, 2018

Cheteshwar Pujara run out twice in the game.

You cannot make this up.

— Nikhil ð (@CricCrazyNIKS) January 17, 2018

Cheteshwar Pujara and run out is still a better  Story than Shilpa's journey in bigg boss ððð

— Kinjal (LUVINAðð) (@KinjalDamor) January 17, 2018

Cheteshwar Pujara is new The Wall of India cricket #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/rQp9ClzIyv

— KP (@Kazi_Parvez) January 17, 2018

Cheteshwar pujara's Moms reaction after he got run out twice.#SAvIND #INDvSA #INDvsSA #TeamIndia #SonyTen1 #IndvSAonSonyTen3 pic.twitter.com/fZyvS4fN49

— Imran (@imranyh) January 17, 2018

Girlfriend: Surprise me.

Me: People think Cheteshwar Pujara is one of India's better test batsman, but his batting average of 22 outside the subcontinent is even worse than that of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan or even Ashwin.

Girlfriend: pic.twitter.com/jeYsAVNBng

— The Educated Moron (@EducatedMoron) January 17, 2018

*Cheteshwar Pujara ideas*
If you run urself out, you need not worry abt any demons in the pitch!#SAvIND #INDVSA pic.twitter.com/pykL6KgmHZ

— That LOL Buddhu (@lolbuddhu) January 17, 2018

Not even in my dreams, I could have dreamt Cheteshwar Pujara getting Run Out. That too twice in one game. Damn it. #IndvsSa

— Udit Telang (@u_did_itt) January 17, 2018

As if the SA bowlers were searching for ways to pick wickets, Cheteshwar Pujara runs himself out ððð #SAvIND

— Swetha Harini (@Swez_S) January 17, 2018

The day he had to stay glued to the wicket, Cheteshwar Pujara ran himself out by going for a needless run. Should be made to do 50 rounds of the ground! #IndvsSA

— Kunal Purandare (@kunaljp) January 17, 2018