Watch: India A’s Mandeep Singh becomes part of both winning and losing side

Chennai: It looks like the dreadful heat in Chennai is taking a toll not only on the Indian players but also the visitors as well. During the India A vs South Africa A match, where the Unmukt Chand-led side outclassed their opposition by eight wickets, India’s Mandeep Singh was seen in a South African jersey fielding for the Proteas.

Due to the heat, South Africa A were forced to use their video analyst Hendrikus Coertzen and India A's Mandeep on the field in Match 3 of the tri-series involving Australia A.

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When Quinton de Kock went off the field suffering from cramps, Mandeep came onto the field as the 16th man for South Africa A. Questions were raised as to how an Indian fielder can field for the opposition.

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Mandeep was not part of the playing eleven with Mayank Agarwal preferred by coach Rahul Dravid and hence could have come to field for the opposition. He came out donning Eddie Leie's jersey. (Photos: PTI)

India A got a bonus point by winning the match courtesy Agarwal’s 130 and skipper Chand’s 90, who were instrumental in chasing down South Africa A’s target of 244. Both the Indian batsmen reached the target in 37.4 overs.

India A had started very nervously but grew in confidence as the game progressed. South Africa A's illness woes have forced a change in the tri-series schedule, with India A and not them taking on Australia A on Monday.

This was not the first time though that an Indian player fielded for the opposition. Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar made his international debut against Imran Khan’s Pakistan in 1989 as a 16-year-old, but he stepped on an international arena as a player playing for Pakistan on January 20, 1987 at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. It was an exhibition match between Indians and Pakistanis to mark the golden jubilee of Cricket Club of India.

Team India won the match as Mohammad Azharuddin smashed 80 and no one noticed 13-year-old Tendulkar until two years later.