'Markram I feel you' - Abhinav Mukund tweets for Aiden Markram, who fielded for two days before getting out on 2nd ball

He is the only captain from South Africa to have won a cricket World Cup (the Under-19 one in 2014). He is also one of the mainstays of the current South African team touring India. But Aiden Markram hasn’t still found his touch in his maiden Test series in India, managing 5, 39 and zero in the three outings. On Friday, the talented right-handed batsman lasted just a couple of balls as he got trapped by pacer Umesh Yadav, who has replaced an injured Jasprit Bumrah in this series.

Markram came out to bat with his opening partner Dean Elgar after India declared their first innings at a mammoth 601 for 5 with captain Virat Kohli slamming 254 not out. Mayank Agarwal made 108 while Ravindra Jadeja scored 91. But the Proteas had a disastrous start with Markram returning to the hut in the second over with just two runs on the board. A tricky in-swinger from Umesh saw the batsman playing down a wrong line and the umpire did not hesitate to raise his dreaded finger. The South African batsman didn’t go for a review either as it was conclusive.

SA reeling at 36 for 3 at stumps on Day 2

SA ended the second day of the all-important second Test in Pune at 36 for 3, requiring another 366 runs to save the follow-on. They are trailing the three-match series 0-1 after losing the first Test in Visakhapatnam by 203 runs.

Batsman Abhinav Mukund, who played seven Tests for India between 2011 and 2017, felt for Markram’s ill run and in a tweet, the 29-year-old said it was unfortunate that after fielding in the heat for two days, the batsman returned to play just two deliveries. The fatigue during the fielding never makes it easy for the openers in a Test match and as an opener himself, Abhinav must have felt Markram’s plight.

Field for 600+runs over 2 days in hot conditions and comeback to get out second ball. Markram i feel you.😁 #openersdream

— Abhinav mukund (@mukundabhinav) October 11, 2019

Markram had a similar outing in the first innings of the first Test where he came out to bat after India scored a mammoth 502 for 7 declared. He played 21 balls for his five and in the second innings, he took the strike to score 39 0ff 74 balls. SA will look to him to play as per his reputation if they fancy their chances to at least draw the game.