India's star wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant's return to red-ball cricket led to a few hilarious moments on the field during Duleep Trophy 2024’s first round clash between India B and India A. On Day 4 of the clash at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Chennai, Pant teased Kuldeep Yadav who was batting in the run chase.
During the 41st over of the run chase, Pant told India B fielders to attack the ball and stop Kuldeep from taking a single to keep the strike. The left-arm chinaman said that he won't take a single. However, Pant wasn't convinced and asked Kuldeep to swear it on his mother’s name. As Pant said, ‘Kha le ma kasam nahi lega’, Kuldeep said nothing but smiled as he got ready to face left-arm spinner Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore.
Kuldeep could not do much with the bat and departed a few overs later. He scored 14 runs from 56 balls before falling to Washington Sundar. Earlier, he had shared a 42-run partnership with KL Rahul who scored 57 runs. After Kuldeep's wicket, Akash Deep contributed with a 42-ball 43 before he was run out.
In the first round of Duleep Trophy 2024, Kuldeep bagged just one wicket in the first innings and was unimpressive with the bat. His only wicket of the game was that of teenager Musheer Khan who scored 181 to save his side from a collapse.
Pant’s entertaining knock
Meanwhile, Pant had his fun behind the stumps after getting out for a single-digit score to Avesh Khan in the first innings. In the second innings, he batted like it was a white-ball game despite walking out to bat in the ninth over when India B's score was 22/3.
Pant went ballistic and scored 61 runs from 47 balls. His knock was studded with nine fours and a couple of sixes. The southpaw was not afraid to attempt reverse scoop off fast bowlers. His knock helped India B post 184 and set a target of 275. Shubman Gill's India A suffered a collapse and lost the game by 76 runs.
When will Pant and Kuldeep be in action next?
Pant will be seen donning the gloves when India take on Bangladesh in a two-Test series. However, this time he won’t be sledging Kuldeep who has also been picked in the squad.
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