Watch: Rishabh Pant’s strategic genius runs out Akash Deep off Navdeep Saini bouncer

India B wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was at his best in offering tips to his bowlers and having hilarious banters with India A players in the ongoing Duleep Trophy 2024 opening round in Bengaluru.

Pant’s inputs helped India B, as they beat India A by 76 runs in Bengaluru. In one of the hilarious incidents, which turned out to be a perfect gameplan for India B, Pant advised Navdeep Saini to bowl bouncer to India A pacer Akash Deep.

Bouncer Marenge Isko (Akash Deep): Rishabh Pant to Navdeep Saini

It turned out to be a masterstroke for India B to finish the Duleep Trophy 2024 match early at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Akash, who was approaching fast to his fifty, was run out by the Musheer Khan off the Saini bouncer, all thanks to Rishabh Pant’s tactic in the game.

Now, the video of the pacemaker’s dismissal is going viral on social media, showing the remarkable leadership of Rishabh Pant in the game.

On the last ball of the 53rd over, India B pacer Saini delivered a sharp bouncer aimed at Akash’s head, forcing him to fend it off awkwardly.

Completely unaware of where the ball landed, India A pacer steps out of his crease, only to realize too late that it had gone straight to short leg.

Musheer, stationed at the short leg, quickly picked up the ball and made a direct underarm throw to the stumps, catching Akash out of his crease.

And that’s how Pant’s planning perfectly earned India B the tenth 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 shone brightly in the opening round of the ongoing Duleep Trophy 2024 with both bat and ball.

Watch here how Rishabh Pant's advice helped Navdeep Saini get rid of Akash Deep:

Rishabh Pant : “Bahiya Bouncer marenge isko”

Saini Bowled a bouncer & Akash couldn't handle it, Musheer Khan ran him out.

INDIA B WIN 💥 pic.twitter.com/ukKN1lQtKo

— PantMP4. (@indianspirit070) September 8, 2024

Akash had a splendid outing, finishing with nine wickets (4/60 & 5/56) and 54 runs against India B. In the second inning, the right-hander smoked three boundaries and four sixes during his impressive knock of 43 runs off 42 balls against India B.

He was the second-highest run-maker for India A after KL Rahul’s 57, but his efforts couldn’t save the red-ball game against India B in Bengaluru.

However, India A lost the match, but Akash has big news to celebrate his stunning performance against India B, as the pacer has been named in India’s 16-member squad for the first Test against Bangladesh.

I can never be satisfied: Akash Deep

After the game, Akash stated, “If you get satisfied as a cricketer, you will never learn anything. As long as I have the hunger for learning, I can never be satisfied.”

On the other hand, India A captain, Shubman Gill, said: “Seeing that there's not much happening from the wicket, we could've gone to the bouncer option earlier to Saini. Looking back, you can point to different things. But out there, we went for the option we felt was the best."

"There was some resistance lower down the order as Kuldeep Yadav offered good support to KL Rahul as the latter raised his half-century. But before the partnership could get very threatening, Mukesh Kumar came back to provide the breakthrough, paving the way for India B to wrap things up.”