Ahead of the T20 World Cup, Rishabh Pant’s performance in the DC thrashing of GT is encouraging for India

The BCCI selectors must have been grinning at Rishabh Pant’s all-around performance in the Delhi Capitals’ six-wicket victory against the Gujarat Titans in the 2024 Indian Premier League.

As DC finished chasing 90 runs in 8.5 overs away in Ahmedabad, he made two stumpings, claimed two catches, led with authority, and stayed undefeated on 16 runs in 11 balls.

Pant was India’s top keeper-batter until he was involved in a terrible vehicle accident in December 2022. However, he hasn’t played in more than 14 months and hasn’t been back until the current IPL 2024.

Although it didn’t take him many games to regain his scoring prowess, his keeping was under examination since the T20 World Cup was about to start in the Caribbean and the USA in June.

According to reports, BCCI selectors were only prepared to include him in India’s 15-man team after his knee could survive the rigors of tight games.

The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee must have had little after his performance on Wednesday.

After their win, the left-hander said, “My only thought before entering the field was that I wanted to come in a better way.”

“Just as I was going through rehabilitation,. I like being on the ground and the process of every single match.

Ricky Ponting, the head coach of Delhi, acknowledged Pant’s potential and said that he would have included him if he had been a selector.

“A mindset of a champion”
Pant’s club had a difficult start to the 2024 Indian Premier League, and their victory on Wednesday—just their third in seven games—helped them move up to sixth place in the rankings.

However, he said that their convincing victory against Gujarat demonstrated their mental toughness.

Numerous reasons exist to be happy. We discussed the champion attitude, and our squad discussed it as well,” he said, citing one of the IPL 2024’s top bowling performances.

“It’s early in the competition, so we can still get better.”

Delhi’s net run rate increased as they finished their official 90-run chase in only 8.5 overs.

“We lost a few net run rate points in some other games where we lost, so the only conversation was to get it as soon as possible,” Pant said.

We really simply want to savor each victory as it comes to us. Although they are few, you must savor every second of it.