Rishabh Pant’s return to competitive cricket after a long absence due to a car accident was a highly anticipated event. The Delhi Capitals captain received a warm welcome from the crowd at Mohali.
Batting:
- Pant looked physically fit and started cautiously, scoring a single on his first ball.
- He attempted a big shot on his 7th ball, which resulted in a boundary due to a dropped catch.
- A well-timed cover drive off Harshal Patel showcased his returning form.
- Unfortunately, his innings was cut short after 13 balls as he tried to play a short ball uppishly, leading to a dismissal for 18 runs.
Keeping:
- Declared fit for wicket-keeping duties, Pant displayed agility behind the stumps.
- He almost effected a stumping dismissal of Jitesh Sharma but missed out on the first attempt.
- Pant displayed sharp reflexes with a successful stumping of Jitesh Sharma off Kuldeep Yadav’s googly.
Team Concerns:
- Despite Pant’s return, Delhi Capitals continue to face injury woes.
- Ishant Sharma twisted his ankle while fielding and had to be helped off the field after bowling just 2 overs.
- This incident left Delhi a bowler short, having already used their Impact Player substitution earlier.
Overall, while Rishabh Pant’s batting stint was brief, his return itself was a significant and positive development for the player and the team. However, Delhi Capitals’ injury problems remain a concern going forward.
