No need for a drinks trolley, Pujara carries one inside his pocket

Pujara became the first cricketer to carry a bottle in his pocket while batting in a Test match. Yes, you read that right; Pujara was spotted having a drink from what it appeared a 200ml bottle during the second session on Day 1.

Prithvi Shaw was not the only rewriting the record books on his Test debut against the West Indies at Rajkot on Thursday. India’s No.3 Cheteshwar Pujara too made news, not so much for his batting but for his unique way to beat the heat. Pujara did score a classy 86 and put on a 206-run stand for the second wicket after KL Raul got out for a duck in the first over of the Test match but it was Pujara’s never seen before act in the field to prevent dehydration in the Rajkot heat that overshadowed his batting performance.

Pujara became the first cricketer to carry a bottle in his pocket while batting in a Test match. Yes, you read that right; Pujara was spotted having a drink from what it appeared a 200ml bottle during the second session on Day 1.

Modern-day batsmen are often criticised for having frequent drinks breaks during a match that directly affects the over rate of the fielding side but the ICC has given the leverage on extreme conditions in the sub-continent where temperatures often soar above 40 degrees. In Rajkot it wasn’t as adverse but the highest temperature recorded was 38 degrees during the session, which explains the need of having more than one drinks break.

Pujara, however, did not wait for the umpire to call for a drinks break or did not hamper the pace of the game by calling for a drink from the dressing room. He instead, carried his drink in his pocket.

Beating Rajkot's heat, Pujara's way 🆒😎#INDvWI @cheteshwar1 pic.twitter.com/v86gceoEw2

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 4, 2018

Pujara, though, would be unhappy for missing out on a well-deserved hundred after having made all the hard work against a lacklustre West Indies bowling attack, which did not trouble him or Shaw. Shaw, made full use of the start he got, converting it into a big hundred, becoming the Indian youngest Indian to notch up a Test century on debut.

Well done Pujara! Didn’t see that coming, carrying a bottle of water in his pocket while batting. Saving time. Well done!#OverRates

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) October 4, 2018

That's the first 50 for Pujara with a water bottle in his pocket - Sanjay Manjrekar pic.twitter.com/3O58dGSEZD

— Alagappan V (@IndianMourinho) October 4, 2018

I think Pujara has set a trend here by batting with a water bottle in his pocket.#IndvWI

— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) October 4, 2018

I told you remaining non playing players will go home Hence Pujara brought water for himself 😂😂 @_being_dutta @parinsangoi007 pic.twitter.com/MJDrRIM541

— Tushar Rathi (@gtusharrr) October 4, 2018