Pocket-sized wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel, who replaced injured Wriddhiman Saha in playing eleven for the second Test, received much flak from the fans and critics after he dropped dangerous South African batsman Dean Elgar on 33 runs in the 25th over of the hosts' second innings on Day 3.
Elgar surpassed his highest score in Centurion as he stood tall at 36 when the bad light stopped play at Centurion. South Africa, who already lead the three-match Test series 1-0, were at 90/2, leading India by 118 runs.
It was the third ball of the 25th over by Jasprit Bumrah, which he bowled short of a length on off from around the wicket. The delivery came seaming in sharply towards the Elgar's face and took a top-edge of the left-hander's willow. However, the ball went through for a boundary between Patel and Cheteshwar Pujara who was standing at first slip. Neither the wicketkeeper, nor first slip went for the catch. And the replays showed that it was indeed Patel's catch.
After failing to catch the ball, Patel gave a death stare at Pujara as if to say it was his catch.
This was enough to fume Twitterati, who kept a close eye on every moment of the Centurion Test. Earlier, the 32-year-old keeper had dropped Hashim Amla in South Africa's first innings when he was on 6. Amla later went on to hit causative 82 runs.
A user compared Patel with Saha, taking a dig at his approach.
"See this and see today's. @parthiv9 pointed out "his" simple catch to the first slip's catch. Sad. #INDvSA #SAvIND #FreedomSeries #Day3," he said.
