Mohammed Shami was breathing fire for the Indians in his opening spell on the second morning of the ongoing four-day warm-up game against Leicestershire at Grace Road, Leicester.
He picked up two wickets – that of opposition captain Sam Evans and Cheteshwar Pujara, who was batting at number 3 for Leicestershire – and his first spell figures read: 7-2-19-2.
Shami cleans up Cheteshwar Pujara, jumps on him and apologises
Cheteshwar Pujara was in surreal form during the County Season earlier where he plundered 720 runs in eight innings for Sussex – including four centuries – at a staggering average of 120. This warm-up game for his chance of making a strong claim to return to India’s number 3 Test position, whose holder is Hanuma Vihari now after Pujara was dropped for the Sri Lanka series earlier this year.
However, the veteran batsman failed to make a mark today as he was bowled for a 6-ball duck by Mohammed Shami. Shami ran in hard and hit his typical length outside off.
The ball jagged back in sharply and big and also had plenty of bounce in it for Pujara to hop on the backfoot looking to defend. The ball, though, had seamed in more than Pujara anticipated or didn’t have the time to cover the ball and only managed an inside edge, which deflected the cherry on his stumps!
Pujara looked at the mess of his stumps before turning back to take the long walk back to the dressing room. Shami, who was in his flying aeroplane celebration, aborted it and went after the departed batsman and jumped on him before smilingly apologising for dismissing him. Pujara, though, just continued to walk.
You can watch the video here:
Mohammad Shami picks Cheteshwar Pujara in the warm up game and later apologise for it. pic.twitter.com/3mQRoYE6U2
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 24, 2022
On Day 1 of the game, the Indians had put up 246/8 and were in fact in trouble at 81/5 before uncapped KS Bharat struck 70* to take the side to a respectable total.
