As the north zone leg match between Haryana and Punjab was delayed due to wet outfield, 23-year-old Shadab, while trying to get the ground ready, was laid low when a "pellet struck him".
"He was carrying dry soil relating to his work as the match was delayed due to wet outfield," a ground official said.
"Suddenly he fell to the ground crying with pain, and it was found out that he was hit by an air gun pellet," the official added.
The local police came to the ground to investigate the matter and the officer-on-duty said they were trying to find out who owned an air gun in the vicinity.
Haryana beat Punjab by seven runs in a rain-curtailed 32-over-a-side match.