Delhi Capitals’ thrilling four-run victory over Gujarat Titans, Rishabh Pant scored an aggressive half-century to all but guarantee his place as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper for the T20 World Cup.
During Delhi Capitals’ thrilling, undefeated half-century in the Indian Premier League against Gujarat Titans at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday, Rishabh Pant all but guaranteed his place as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper for the T20 World Cup. DC was reduced to 224 for 4 in their crucial match as Skipper Pant and Axar Patel struck a scorching partnership of 113 runs off 68 balls on their way to rapid individual half-centuries. While Rashid Khan hit an 11-ball 21 not out, he was unable to pass GT’s 20 overs, as they finished at 220 for 8. In response, Sai Sudarshan (65 off 29) and David Miller (55 off 23) each scored fifty runs.
Pant, who was sent in to bat, led from the front and finished unbeaten at 88 off 43 balls (5X4s, 8X6s). His innings served as a useful reminder to the national selectors, who, barring any fitness concerns, are likely to include him in India’s starting XI against Pakistan in the World T20 contest in New York.Pant demonstrated his maturity by batting effectively in tandem with Axar, who was elevated to the third place and struck 66 off 43 balls.
There were five fours and four sixes throughout his innings.
GT lost captain Shubman Gill in the second over of their 225 chase, but Wriddhiman Saha (39), who played some lovely strokes, and Impact Sub Sai Sudharsan added 82 runs for the second wicket to keep GT in the hunt.
However, Jake Fraser-McGurk wonderfully caught Azmatullah Omarzai off Axar at deep midwicket after Saha left.
Nevertheless, Sudharsan, who was given a reprieve in the fifth over, made excellent use of his long handle to reach fifty off just 29 balls).
Five fours and four sixes punctuated his impressive performance.
After losing their captain Shubman Gill in the second over of their 225 chase, GT managed to stay in the hunt because to some lovely strokes from Wriddhiman Saha (39), who shared 82 runs for the second wicket with Impact Sub Sai Sudharsan.
After Saha left, however, Jake Fraser-McGurk also beautifully caught Azmatullah Omarzai off Axar at deep midwicket.
Nonetheless, Sudharsan, who was given a reprieve in the fifth over, made excellent use of his long handle to reach fifty off just 29 balls.
Five fours and four sixes punctuated his impressive performance.
After losing their captain Shubman Gill in the second over of their 225 chase, GT managed to stay in the hunt because to some lovely strokes from Wriddhiman Saha (39), who shared 82 runs for the second wicket with Impact Sub Sai Sudharsan.
After Saha left, however, Jake Fraser-McGurk also beautifully caught Azmatullah Omarzai off Axar at deep midwicket.
Nonetheless, Sudharsan, who was given a reprieve in the fifth over, made excellent use of his long handle to reach fifty off just 29 balls.
But as the asking rate steadily increased, Sudharsan was forced to take risks, which ultimately proved to be fatal as Axar caught him off Salam at a considerable distance. Out of his two sixes, he hit seven fours.
Following his removal, Rashid gave GT hope with an 11-ball, 21-run, undefeated cameo. Miller (55 off 23, 6X4s, 3X6s) then put on a display to push them closer to the target.
Rashid reduced the margin to 5 runs off the final ball after hitting Mukesh Kumar for two consecutive fours in the opening two deliveries of the penultimate over. Rashid needed 19 runs off the final over.
However, Rashid was unable to get over the fence and GT failed, but Mukesh remained composed.
However, Pant’s outstanding innings on Wednesday eliminated any questions regarding his chances of making the World T20 Cup. The colorful keeper hitter was outstanding behind the stumps as well, snagging two clean catches.
Before, Prithvi Shaw and Jake Fraser-McGurk gave DC a great start by scoring 34 runs in just three overs.
Fraser-McGurk, who hit a scorching 18-ball 65 in their previous encounter, appeared to be in peak form as he skillfully lofted GT bowlers over the fence. However, Sandeep Warrier cut off the young Australian’s run of play when he was holed out at square-leg by Noor Ahmed.
In the fourth over, DC suffered a double blow when the batter aimed for a maximum and was caught by Noor off Warrier two balls later with a wonderful diving effort at the deep backward square leg.
DC was down to 44 for 3 in the powerplay, and their troubles were made worse when Warrier claimed his second wicket of the day, Shai Hope, who was caught by a diving Rashid at the cover boundary.
Pant and Axar batted conservatively at first, trying to work out a partnership, but once they were set, they launched their vicious attack. Pant was down three wickets.
Pant had a rough start, but as time went on, he grew more self-assured and began to score runs with his signature pick-up shots of his legs, cuts, and pulls.
As Pant appeared to have found his rhythm, Axar played the second fiddle and was unflappable in his ability to hit the bad balls to the fence.
As the innings went on, though, Axar picked up the pace and reached his fifty off 37 balls, including a boundary off Rashid in the final delivery of the 15th over.
In the 16th over, Pant neatly flicked Mohit Sharma for a six over midwicket, attacking anything pitched on his legs. To maintain DC’s run pace, he then clobbered Mohit over long-off in the same over.
In the 17th over, Axar hit two massive sixes in a row, matching his captain stroke for stroke.
However, in the subsequent ball, Axar was caught by Sai Kishore at long-on and died in an attempt to have one too many.
With a hit off Mohit over the long-on fence, Pant reached his fifty.
DC passed 200 runs thanks to a late seven-ball 26-run cameo from Tristan Stubbs and Pant’s fireworks near the end.In the final over, Pant wreaked havoc on Mohit, smashing the seasoned bowler for four sixes and one four to score 31 runs.
