IPL 2024 DC versus GT: Axar Patel and Rishabh Pant shine as Delhi Capitals defeat Gujarat Titans by 4 runs in another thrilling high-scoring match

With a dominant, undefeated half-century during Delhi Capitals’ exciting four-run win against Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League game held on Wednesday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Rishabh Pant cemented his status as India’s main wicketkeeper for the T20 World Cup.

Leading from the front, Pant and Axar Patel combined to create a brilliant partnership of 113 runs off 68 balls, with both players scoring half-centuries at a quick pace to help DC to a daunting total of 224 for 4 in their pivotal match.

Sai Sudarshan and David Miller responded by showing off their batting skills for the Gujarat Titans, scoring half-centuries, while Rashid Khan struck quickly, scoring 21 runs off of only 11 balls. But even with their heroic efforts, GT could not reach the mark; in the 20 overs given to them, they ended up at 220 for 8.

With five boundaries and eight massive sixes, Pant’s explosive 88 runs off 43 balls demonstrated his preparation for the forthcoming T20 World Cup. Should he be healthy, he should play a key role for India against Pakistan in New York.

Axar’s aggressive style was matched by Pant’s mature and composed innings management as he hammered 66 runs off 43 balls, including four sixes and five boundaries.

Wriddhiman Saha’s elegant 39 runs and Sudarshan’s thunderous 65 runs off 29 balls kept GT in the game even though they lost early wickets. But Miller’s late heroics and Sudarshan’s exit after a brilliant fifty years could not secure the win for GT.

Even with GT’s valiant pursuit, Pant’s outstanding batting display and brilliant wicketkeeping confirmed his place in India’s T20 World Cup ambitions.

Prior to this, Delhi Capitals (DC) got off to a fast start thanks to Jake Fraser-McGurk and Prithvi Shaw, who combined for 34 runs in the opening three overs. Fraser-McGurk carried on his menacing form, neatly sending the Gujarat Titans’ (GT) bowlers over the boundary lines after smashing an explosive eighteen-ball sixty-five in their last encounter.

But Sandeep Warrier claimed his wicket, as Noor Ahmed took the young Australian at square-leg, bringing his innings to an abrupt end. Just two balls after Shaw was dismissed by Warrier, DC suffered a second blow as Noor made a breathtaking diving grab at deep backward square leg.

After Warrier removed Shai Hope, who was caught by Rashid at the cover boundary, for his second wicket of the day, the home team’s problems were made worse, as DC was left battling at 44 for 3 during the powerplay.

Axar Patel and Rishabh Pant batted conservatively at first, trying to steady the innings despite the early losses. But when they took up residence, they launched a fierce attack on the GT bowlers.

Pant started off slowly but soon gained confidence and started to unleash his signature shots. Axar steadily supported Pant, punishing careless deliveries to the fence.

Axar increased his game as the innings went on and scored his fifty off 37 balls. In the 15th over, he sealed the milestone with a boundary off Rashid. However, Pant was unaffected by anything thrown at his legs. In the 16th over, he easily removed Mohit Sharma for a six over midwicket, and after that over, he hammered him over long-off, increasing DC’s run rate.

In the 17th over, Axar matched his captain’s aggressiveness by hitting Noor for two straight sixes. But in an effort to increase the score quickly, Axar was caught at long-on by Sai Kishore on the next ball.

With a powerful blow over the long-on fence off Mohit, Pant achieved his fifty. With Pant’s spectacular last over, Tristan Stubbs’ late-inning burst of 26 runs off seven balls helped DC surpass 200 runs. With four sixes and a boundary in the last over, the left-handed Indian batsman wrecked havoc on Mohit, making sure DC finished with a commanding score.