Duleep Trophy | Twitter ablaze to Rishabh Pant’s splendid boundary in his return to Red-Ball cricket after two years

ByDebayan Sinha, SportsCafe Editor

Today at 1:42 PM

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Comebacks play a vital role both in life and in cricket, and few players make a memorable a return. A notable example occurred in the Duleep Trophy opener between India A and India B, where Rishabh Pant marked his return to red-ball cricket after a two-year break with an impressive boundary

‌India B began their innings steadily after being asked to bat first, with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Abhimanyu Easwaran guiding the score to 29/0 in 12 overs. However, Avesh Khan disrupted the partnership by dismissing the India B captain in the 13th over. Following Jaiswal's dismissal in the 22nd over, Musheer Khan and Sarfaraz Khan managed to advance the score to 65/2 by Lunch. After the break, Avesh Khan claimed Sarfaraz's wicket, paving the way for Rishabh Pant to bat in first-class cricket for the first time in two years. Pant's arrival was heralded by a stunning boundary.

On the fourth ball of the 33rd over, Avesh delivered a full toss to the left-handed Pant. Standing outside the crease, Pant expertly played a graceful cover drive as the ball kissed the middle of his bat and sailed past the cover fielder for four runs. The 26-year-old seemed visibly relieved and thrilled to make such a triumphant return to domestic red-ball cricket after his unfortunate accident. The excitement surrounding Pant’s comeback was palpable, with fans taking to social media to celebrate his return after a two-year absence.

What a start!

— Gill Bill (@bill_gill76078)

Back in business

Rishabh Pant plays for the first time in whites after injury and he is back to the business in his own style.

First ball four 🔥🫡 |
— ASHER.🇮🇳. (@ASHUTOSHAB10731)

Welcome back

Welcome back to red ball cricket. 1st ball in red ball cricket since 2022 and he hits his trademark cover drive for four. 1 ball later, he danced down the wicket for an allmighty heave against Avesh Khan, although didn't connected

Pant and red ball cricket is🔥
— Aby Siby (@Aby_Siby)

Gift

Gift from Avesh khan…!?

Rishabh Pant begans his innings with a four.
— JustMyThoughts (@kriss6497296778)

What a comeback!

Rishabh pant hits first ball four on her red ball comeback wow..👌👌👏👏🥺��
— ASHER.🇮🇳. (@ASHUTOSHAB10731)

Only 93 runs short

Rishabh Pant missed his well deserving Century by just 93 runs..

Feeling sad for him 😭
— Gajan (@JayHind108)

Sad

Yashasvi Jaiswal - 30(59).

Shreyas Iyer - 9(16).

Rishabh Pant - 7(10).

Sarfaraz Khan - 9(35).

Devdutt Padikkal - 0(4).

- Not a great outing for our Stars so far in this Duleep Trophy..!!!!
— Pankaj Yadav (@crickpankaj)

Away it goes

Rishabh Pant playing red ball cricket once again 🙌🤗🤗

And greeted with full toss dolly outside off stump by Avesh and put it for 4 through covers 😃
— Abhijeet Andansare (@ImAbhijeet17)

Beauty