Rishabh Pant’s eagerly awaited return to red-ball cricket after almost two years fell short of expectations. In his debut innings for Abhimanyu Easwaran‘s India B against Shubman Gill’s India A, Pant was dismissed for a modest 7 runs on Day 1 of their Duleep Trophy 2024-25 encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday, September 5.

Shubman Gill’s stunning catch: Fall of Rishabh Pant

Pant, renowned for his aggressive batting style, struggled to find his rhythm and flirted with danger throughout his brief stint at the crease. Facing off against the disciplined Akash Deep, Pant’s attempt to assert his dominance backfired. In the 37th over, he attempted to loft a delivery towards the on-side but managed only a leading edge. Gill, leading the opposition, made a remarkable diving catch to dismiss Pant, despite appearing to injure his right shoulder in the process. Gill’s quick recovery allowed him to continue his role as captain, while India A’s pace trio – Akash Deep, Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed – imposed themselves on the game.

Here’s the video:

What a Catch! & What a Ball! 🔥

✌️ moments of brilliance in ✌️ balls 👌👌

Shubman Gill pulls off a stunning catch to dismiss Rishabh Pant & then Akash Deep bowls a beauty to dismiss Nithish Kumar Reddy#DuleepTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank

Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/eQyu38Erb1 pic.twitter.com/80Cpgat3nF

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) September 5, 2024

Also WATCH: Dhruv Jurel pulls off an unbelievable catch to dismiss Abhimanyu Easwaran in Duleep Trophy 2024

Short-lived promises and early breakthroughs

Pant’s innings in the match began with a flourish, showcasing his intent with a stylish cover drive for four off Avesh. However, his promising start was fleeting as he was dismissed after just 10 deliveries. This match was notable for marking Pant’s return to competitive red-ball cricket for the first time since December 2022. Earlier in the day, India B’s opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal made a steady contribution of 30 runs off 59 balls before being dismissed by Khaleel. In the same innings, captain Easwaran was out for 13, falling victim to a delivery from Avesh.

Avesh Khan and Akash Deep dominate

The middle order struggled as Sarfaraz Khan and Musheer Khan tried to stabilize the innings with a 14-run partnership. Nevertheless, Avesh struck again, removing Sarfaraz. Akash Deep emerged as a key player for India A, claiming crucial wickets, including Pant and Nitish Reddy, in successive deliveries. Nitish’s dismissal was particularly noteworthy, with Akash Deep delivering a superb delivery that toppled the off-stump. By Tea, India B are reeling at 124/7 after 54 overs, with Navdeep Saini and Musheer trying to anchor the innings.

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