Identified: The Mystery Man Who Was Serving Drinks To Indian Players At The Eden Gardens

In addition to the unusual Eden Gardens pitch and a fine bowling performance from Suranga Lakmal in the ongoing first Test, another sight that caught everyone’s attention was a mystery boy carrying drinks for the Indian team. Usually the players who do not make it to the playing eleven do that work but in the ongoing game another man was seen handing out the drinks to the on-field players in the first innings.

Later, he was also seen doing the duties of the 12th man when the visitors were batting. So before you pull out your hairs over the identity of that player, let us tell you he is Pankaj Shaw who plies his trade for Bengal in domestic circuit.

Born in Gopalpur,  Shaw has represented his state in 12 First Class matches so far. The 29-year old made his first-class in 2015 against Rajasthan in the Ranji Trophy but has not played in the tournament since the game against Baroda in November last year. So far, he has scored one century and 6 fifties to accumulate 613 runs at an average of 30.65 in first-class cricket.

He had hogged the limelight last year when he slammed 413 in a club game in the three-day Cricket Association of Bengal First Division tournament. Playing for Barisha Sporting against Dakshin Kalikata, he had hit a staggering 44 fours and 23 sixes en route to the first 400-plus score in a three-day CAB league.

India’s stage brilliant comeback:

Meanwhile, coming to the match, Indian openers struck brilliant fifties to help India claw its way back into the game after Sri Lanka scored 294 in the first innings to take an 122-run lead. KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan added 166 runs for the first wicket before the latter was dismissed by Dasun Shanaka for 94. At stumps on day 4, India were 171 for 1 with Rahul batting on 73 and Pujara unbeaten on 2.

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