Watch: After Doing This Against GT, Sourav Ganguly Can’t Help But Give Rishabh Pant Standing Ovation

On Wednesday, the IPL 2024 saw yet another thrilling final overmatch, with the Delhi Capitals defeating the Gujarat Titans. In the Indian Premier League on Wednesday, the Delhi Capitals defeated the Gujarat Titans by a close margin of four runs, and Rishabh Pant’s aggressive and undefeated half-century all but guaranteed his place as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper for the T20 World Cup.

 

In their crucial match, Skipper Pant and Axar Patel struck a scorching partnership of 113 runs off 68 balls on their way to rapid-fire half-centuries, pushing DC to 224 for 4.

In response, Rashid Khan smashed an 11-ball 21 not out, but he was unable to get GT across the finish line as they finished at 220 for 8 in their 20 overs. Sai Sudarshan (65 off 29) and David Miller (55 off 23) both scored fifty-five runs.

Pant was sent in to bat and led from the front, finishing unbeaten at 88 off 43 balls (5x4s, 8x6s). His performance served as a useful reminder for 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’s maturity was evident as he skillfully managed the tempo of his innings while batting with Axar, who was moved up to third place and hit 66 off 43 balls. There were four sixes and five fours throughout his innings.

On the first ball of the 16th over, one of the sixes was struck against Mohit Sharma. Pant hoisted one over deep mid-wicket with the bat’s bottom hand. Sourav Ganguly, DC Director of Cricket, gave Pant a standing ovation for the hit.

Chasing 225, GT lost their captain Shubman Gill in the second over, but Wriddhiman Saha (39), who played some lovely strokes, shared 82 runs for the second wicket with Impact Sub Sai Sudharsan to keep GT in the hunt.

However, as soon as Saha left, Jake Fraser-McGurk also wonderfully caught Azmatullah Omarzai off Axar at deep midwicket.

However, Sudharsan, who was given a respite in the fifth over, made excellent use of his long handle to reach fifty off only 29 balls.

However, as the asking rate continued to rise, Sudharsan was forced to take risks, which ultimately proved fatal as Axar was able to catch him off Salam at a considerable distance. He scored two sixes and seven fours.

Following his removal, Miller (55 off 23, 6X4s, 3X6s) put on a display to move them closer to the mark, and Rashid gave GT hope with an 11-ball, 21-run, undefeated cameo.

With 19 runs needed in the last over, Rashid narrowed the margin to 5 runs off the final ball by hitting Mukesh Kumar for two consecutive fours in the first two deliveries and then hitting the pacer over the fence in the penultimate ball.

But even as GT failed and Rashid was unable to get over the barrier, Mukesh remained composed.