When it comes to gully cricket, there is always one friend who bats for both teams. On Saturday, that player was India’s Test maestro Cheteshwar Pujara. The 34-year-old, who is a part of a warm-up game ahead of the England Test, batted for both India and Leicestershire on the same day. 

The four-day warm-up game between Rohit Sharma and co and Sam Evans-led Leicestershire is being played at the Grace Road, Leicester. 

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To ensure the Indians got enough practice before the crucial Test against England in Edgbaston, some of them – Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant were put in the Leicestershire playing XI. The three net bowlers, Navdeep Saini, R Sai Kishore and Kamlesh Nagarkoti, bowled for the county team in the second innings. 

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Rohit Sharma’s men, batting first, made 246/8 runs in the first innings before declaring. Wicketkeeper-batter Srikar Bharat top-scored with 70 runs against his name. Pujara came out to bat for Leicestershire on Day 2. He was cleaned up by Mohammed Shami for a duck. The county side managed 244 runs with the help of Rishabh Pany’s well-made 76. 

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By stumps on Day 3, India were at 364/7. Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja made half-centuries. The visitors led by 366 runs. 

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However, the one move that surprised all fans was Pujara coming in to bat for India after he had played for Leicestershire in the morning. This was possible due to an understanding between the teams. The game is not official and because Pujara did not spend enough time on the crease in the first innings, he was called to bat again. 

For India, Shubman Gill opened the innings with Srikar Bharat instead of skipper Rohit Sharma. Virat Kohli walked out to bat at number seven and Pujara came in at 8.