Rajendra Prasad Mohapatra

Fans were surprised as India Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara batted for both the visitors and Leicestershire in the four-day warm-up game.

Many cricket buffs were confused and they wanted to know the reason behind it.

The warm-up game was not gully cricket where one does not have to worry about the rules and bat for both the teams. But it happened in the game ahead of the fifth Test versus England.

Fans were surprised when Pujara walked out to bat for Leicestershire in the match after doing the same for India. 

Notably, Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant were put in the Leicestershire playing XI in the warm-up game and later on, three Indian net bowlers – Navdeep Saini, R Sai Kishore and Kamlesh Nagarkoti also bowled for the hosts in the second innings.

During Leicestershire’s first innings, Pujara was unable to survive long as he was cleaned up by Shami for a 6-ball duck.

Now, because he was not able to spend quality time in the middle, he again batted for India.
It was not a first-class game and hence, both the teams had an agreement over playing conditions before the game. 

In a bid to let Pujara spend quality time in the middle ahead of the fifth Test, the management asked him to bat for India again. Pujara joined the middle at No.8 after the dismissal of Shardul Thakur. However, Pujara’s entry after Shardul’s dismissal surprised many fans. 
 

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