Rishabh Pant to play Duleep Trophy 2024-25 ahead of India's long Test season. Pant would be playing red-call cricket for the first time after his return.
Rishabh Pant is set to make his comeback in red-ball cricket with the 2024-25 Duleep Trophy. Recently, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee announced the squads for the first round of the tournament. The wicketkeeper-batter has been named in the India B squad for the tournament and will be playing under the leadership of Abhimanyu Easwaran.
The domestic tournament will also mark his return to Test cricket since his car accident in December 2022. He is in the scheme of things for the upcoming Bangladesh Test series, and the Duleep Trophy is the perfect stage for him to prove his mettle and get ahead of other wicketkeeper-batters in the race.
Expectations from Rishabh Pant in Duleep Trophy
Rishabh Pant has the strongest credentials to be a first-choice in India’s XI for the upcoming series against Bangladesh. Pant was pretty much the first name on the team sheet in Test cricket for India before his career came to a halt due to a car crash. He returned to international cricket at the T20 World Cup, and the Duleep Trophy will be Rishabh’s first red-ball outing since December 2022.
The only question mark for him would be the fact that KL Rahul excelled as a wicketkeeper-batter in his absence. But Pant would likely be looking at the Duleep Trophy as a way to get back into the groove of things in the longest format.
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Pant’s fitness for red-ball cricket
As the longer format demands a different level of physical and mental endurance, Pant's fitness for red-ball cricket is also under scrutiny, especially after the horrific incident. Amidst the whispers of doubt and anticipation, Rishabh embarked on a rigorous journey to prepare for the ultimate test in the domestic red-ball tournament—the Duleep Trophy.
Test cricket is a gruelling format that demands strong physical fitness. Players must possess top-notch fitness levels to withstand the rigours of multi-day matches, including batting for long periods and staying sharp in the field. To excel in this format, Pant must meet certain benchmarks in terms of physical readiness. He should capitalise on this opportunity to showcase his improved physical fitness and announce his strong return in this form of cricket.
Wicket-keeping skills
Rishabh Pant burst onto the cricket scene with his explosive batting prowess, but his wicket-keeping skills have also been a standout feature of his game. His agility behind the stumps and his knack for taking sharp catches and lightning-fast stumpings have been crucial for his team's success.
Over the years, Pant has evolved as a wicketkeeper, learning from his experiences in different conditions and formats. His journey has seen him work on his technique and adapt his style to excel in red-ball cricket, proving that he is not just a supremely talented batter but a solid wicketkeeper as well. His work behind the stumps ensures that the team doesn't leak unnecessary runs, adding pressure on the opposition batters.
Pant’s wicket-keeping skills, particularly against spin bowling, have undergone a tremendous transformation in recent times. His solid wicket-keeping not only aids the team but also adds to his credibility as a complete player. Pant’s enhanced glove work and catching efficiency allow him to take sharp catches and effect quick stumpings against the spinners.
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Batting approach
Another major expectation from Rishabh Pant is to maintain his trademark attacking approach of batting. The India wicketkeeper-batter is known for his aggressive and fearless approach at the crease. He has done this tremendously earlier in the longer format against several world-class bowlers.
Pant's batting style is characterised by his fearlessness, attacking mindset, and ability to hit boundaries at will. He is known for his aggressive approach to both pace and spin bowlers, often taking the attack to the opposition from the outset. He has an outstanding record in Test cricket with 2271 runs in 33 international matches, including a high score of an unbeaten 159 off 189 balls against Australia.
While Pant boasts an impressive strike rate and a knack for scoring quick runs, his average in recent tournaments has been a cause for concern. The southpaw will be looking to find the right balance between aggression and responsibility to maximise his impact in crucial situations. The Duleep Trophy presents Pant with an opportunity to refine his technique and showcase his versatility as a batter. He could look to mix aggression with caution, especially in challenging conditions, to provide stability to the batting line-up.
Conclusion
India has seen the emergence of several wicketkeeper-batters in recent times, like KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, KS Bharat, and Ishan Kishan. Hence it will be a tough competition for Rishabh Pant to make a comeback in India’s Test squad. The Duleep Trophy is a great opportunity for him to display his prowess as both a wicketkeeper and a batter. It will be interesting to see how he perceives and plays the game while making his return to red-ball cricket.
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