India B wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was at his best as he offered tips to his bowlers and had some funny banter with India A players in the first round of the ongoing Duleep Trophy 2024 in Bengaluru.
Pant’s contributions really helped India B as they beat India A by 76 runs in Bengaluru. One of the funniest incidents, which turned out to be a perfect game plan for India B, was when Pant advised Navdeep Saini to bowl a bouncer to India A pacer Akash Deep.
It turned out to be a masterstroke for India B to end the Duleep Trophy 2024 match early at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Akash, who was fast approaching his fifties, was dismissed by Musheer Khan at the Saini wicket, all thanks to Pant’s tactics in the game.
Now, the video of the pacer’s dismissal is going viral on social media, showcasing the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman’s remarkable leadership in the game. On the last ball of the 53rd over, India B pacer Saini delivered a hard blow aimed at Akash’s head, forcing him to defend himself awkwardly.
Completely unaware of where the ball landed, the India A player stepped out of his crease, only to realise too late that it had gone straight to short leg. Musheer, positioned at short leg, quickly picked up the ball and played an underarm straight shot to the stumps, trapping Akash outside his crease.
And that was how Pant’s planning allowed India B to get the 10th wicket to win the game by 76 runs against India A in Bengaluru. Well, India A might have suffered a massive defeat against India B, but Akash Deep shined in the first round of the ongoing Duleep Trophy 2024 with both bat and ball.
Rishabh pants: “Bahiya Bouncer marenge isko”
Saini bowled a bouncer and Akash couldn’t control it, Musheer Khan got him out.
INDIA B WINS 💥 pic.twitter.com/ukKN1lQtKo
— PantMP4. (@indianspirit070) September 8, 2024
Akash had a splendid outing, finishing with nine wickets (4/60 and 5/56) and 54 runs against India B. In the second innings, the right-hander smoked three boundaries and four sixes during his impressive knock of 43 runs in 42 balls against India B.
He was the second highest run-getter for India A, after KL Rahul’s 57, but his efforts could not save the red-ball match against India B in Bengaluru. However, India A lost the match, but Akash has some big news to celebrate for his impressive performance against India B as the player has been named in India’s 16-member squad for the first Test against Bangladesh.
I can never be satisfied: Akash Deep
After the match, Akash said, “If you settle for being a cricketer, you will never learn anything. As long as I am hungry to learn, I can never be satisfied.”
On the other hand, India A captain Shubman Gill said: “Seeing that there was not much movement from the wicket, we could have resorted to the bouncer option earlier against Saini. Looking back, different things can be pointed out. But on the field, we went with the option that we felt was the best.
There was some resistance further down the order as Kuldeep Yadav offered good support to KL Rahul as the latter brought up his half-century. But before the partnership could become too threatening, Mukesh Kumar returned to provide the breakthrough, paving the way for India B to wrap things up.
