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Rishabh Pant played a crucial role in India B's innings, scoring a valuable fifty after struggling in the first innings of the Duleep Trophy 2024. He and Sarfaraz Khan contributed significantly to India B's total after early setbacks.
Rishabh Pant rescues India B with fiery fifty
India A's first innings was dismissed for a relatively low score of 231 runs on Day 3, thanks to impressive bowling performances from Navdeep Saini and Mukesh Kumar, who each claimed three wickets. The bowlers continued to dominate on Day 3, as India B also faced difficulties scoring runs early in their second innings.
India B recovers from early setbacks
Akash Deep and Avesh Khan made early inroads, dismissing three India B batsmen for just 22 runs within the first eight overs. However, Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan formed a crucial partnership, adding 72 runs for the fourth wicket and guiding India B towards a strong total.
Pant's return to Red-Ball cricket
Sarfaraz Khan missed out on a half-century, scoring 46 runs from 36 balls. However, Rishabh Pant, making a successful comeback to red-ball cricket, smashed a 34-ball fifty. He contributed 61 runs from 47 balls before being dismissed by Tanush Koitan. India B finished the day with a fighting lead of 240 runs. Rishabh Pant's last red-ball match was in December 2022, before a car accident sidelined him for over a year. He made a comeback in the IPL 2024 and was also a key member of India's T20 World Cup 2024-winning squad.
Rishabh Pant, the 26-year-old left-handed batter, is expected to make a comeback to Test cricket when India hosts Bangladesh in a two-match series starting on September 19. Despite scoring just seven runs in the first innings of the Duleep Trophy, Pant's aggressive batting display on Day 3 demonstrated his fitness and determination to succeed in red-ball cricket.
Rishabh Pant's road to Test comeback
Rishabh Pant's fifty in the Duleep Trophy was a significant milestone as he aims to regain his place in the Indian Test team. He has been absent from Test cricket since India's tour of Bangladesh in December 2022, following a car accident that sidelined him for over a year. Pant's impressive performances in white-ball cricket, including leading Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024 and contributing to India's T20 World Cup victory, have strengthened his case for a return to the Test side. With India set to play 10 Tests in the next five months, Pant will be eager to secure his spot in the team. Pant showcased his sharp wicket-keeping skills during the Duleep Trophy match, taking two catches.
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