Watch: Rishabh Pant shines with blistering 34-ball fifty on first-class comeback in Duleep Trophy

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has made a superb comeback in first-class cricket after 21 months. Pant reached his fifty off just 34 balls and played shots all around the ground. It was a typical Rishabh Pant's style of innings which was full of excitement and aggression.

Earlier, India B had taken a big lead of 90 runs after the first innings of both teams had ended. But India A fast bowlers Khaleel Ahmed and Akash Deep had other ideas as they dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Musheer Khan cheaply to bring their team back into the game.

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Rishabh Pant marks his return to first-class cricket with a 34-ball half-century

Rishabh Pant came in to bat at No. 5 when India B were in huge trouble at 22-3 after the fall of their skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran. The left-hander joined Sarfaraz Khan at the crease. Despite the fall of wickets and the wicket assisting the seamers, both batters were aggressive right from the start.

The youngsters made their intentions clear as they looked to extend the lead. Pant was lucky on some occasions as the ball went off his outside edge over the wicketkeeper's head. On one occasion, he got a top edge and the ball went high in the air. However, wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel could not get under the ball in time.

Pant was particularly severe on the left-arm wrist-spinner and his fellow Delhi Capitals teammate Kuldeep Yadav as he welcomed him with a flurry of boundaries. Pant reached his fifty off just 34 balls. Despite playing a first-class match after 21 months, he looked in great touch.

50 for Rishabh Pant! 👌

He brings it up off just 34 balls 🔥#DuleepTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank

Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/eQyu38DTlt pic.twitter.com/OPSfsvFhqI

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) September 7, 2024

Rishabh Pant continues to attack after fifty

Pant continued to attack the bowlers and put the bad balls to the boundary. He was finally dismissed for 61 off just 47 balls, which included 9 fours and 2 sixes.

The left-hander looked to sweep the offspinner Tanush Kotian but one hand came off the handle which resulted in a top edge. The fielder at short fine leg dived forward to take an excellent catch.

Pant's quickfire knock enabled India B's lead past the 200-run mark. Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant added 72 runs off just 55 balls. Sarfaraz smashed a blistering 36-ball 46, which included 7 fours and 1 six.

India B extend their lead

Rishabh Pant was dismissed for just 7 runs in the first innings but came back with a bang in the second innings. His form is a piece of great news for India as he has put his claim for the comeback in Test cricket. He is likely to be in India's squad for the upcoming home Test series against Bangladesh.

India B were 150-6 at the end of Day 3. They currently lead by 240 runs with 4 wickets in hand. Nitish Kumar Reddy was dismissed by Khaleel Ahmed in what turned out to be the last ball of the day. Washington Sundar was batting unbeaten on 6 off 23 balls.