Duleep Trophy: Rishabh Pant is ready to dominate Test cricket once again. The southpaw, who was India’s best Test batter from 2020 to 2022, has made a fantastic return to red-cricket. Playing his first first-class match in 20 months, Pant started the way he’s always played: by attacking. His stay in the middle was cut short by a superb catch on the first day of the India A vs B match. But he’s capatilised on the second chance.
His last first-class match (Test) came in December 2022 against Bangladesh in Mirpur. In that game as well, he’d scored a half-century (91). Almost two years may have passed, and Pant may not be at his best right now, but that hasn’t stopped him from scoring a fifty. His 61-run knock came in just 47 balls with 11 boundaries (9 fours and 2 sixes) against a high-quality India A bowling lineup.
Pant punishes bowlers
Pant went hard after Khaleel Ahmed and Kuldeep Yadav, both players who are his Delhi Capitals teammates. He smashed 23 runs in 15 balls, which included 5 fours. He went even harder against Kuldeep, smashing him for 20 runs in just 9 balls. Pant was much quieter against bowlers he hasn’t faced much (Akash Deep, Avesh Khan and Tanush Kotian). Against them, he combined scored 18 runs off 23 balls.
Pant eradicates any doubts
Naturally, there were some doubts over Pant. Whether he’d be fit enough to keep wickets for 90 overs a day, how’ll he play spinner in India post his surgery? But it looks like the southpaw won’t have much trouble. His foot movement seemed as good as ever. He grabbed a couple of good ones as well.
His aggressive instinct, which set him apart, was present as well. From ball one, he wanted to attack and put the pressure back on the bowlers. It looks like he’ll definitely find himself in the Playing XI vs Bangladesh on September 19. There wasn’t much doubt before either, but now it seems like a confirmation.
How he’ll face Shakib Al Hasan, Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz on what’s generally a spin-friendly Chennai pitch will be fascinating to watch. Mind you, Bangladesh were the last team he faced in Test cricket.
