Rishabh Pant’s return to competitive cricket turned out to be a disappointing affair as Delhi Capitals (DC) lost their first game of the season to Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the first afternoon match of IPL 2024 by four wickets. PBKS successfully chased down 175 runs in 19.2 overs with four wickets in hand.
Pant’s comeback story
As Pant walked out to bat, the crowd erupted into a thunderous standing ovation, acknowledging his resilience and determination to recover swiftly. Early in his innings, the left-hander displayed his usual flair, attempting to play the cut shot towards the third-man area while going down on his knees, albeit without finding the desired gap.
Fortune seemed to favour Pant as he faced Rahul Chahar. Despite not connecting as cleanly as he would have hoped, he managed to send the ball towards the square-leg boundary, catching Harshal Patel off guard and conceding a boundary to mark his return. Following the let-off, Pant punished Harshal with an elegant drive for a boundary through the cover region. However, just a ball and two runs later, Pant fell victim to the seamer’s pace. Attempting to up the ante against a delivery clocking in at 123 kmph, Pant mistimed his shot, resulting in a catch for Jonny Bairstow at backward point. Clearly frustrated with himself, Pant departed the field.
Despite managing only 18 runs during his brief stint at the crease, Pant looked assured and composed. Not only did he exhibit batting finesse, but he also demonstrated confidence behind the stumps, executing a swift stumping to dismiss PBKS wicket-keeper batter Jitesh Sharma.
Porel’s impactful performance
By the end of the 16th over, DC found themselves in a precarious position at 128/6. That’s when DC management decided to send their impact player, Abishek Porel. This strategic decision yielded significant dividends as the 21-year-old batter unleashed a blistering assault, amassing 32 runs from just 10 balls, inclusive of four boundaries and two sixes.
In the final over, Porel’s onslaught left the seasoned campaigner Harshal Patel befuddled, as he amassed an impressive 25 runs, propelling DC to a respectable total of 174/9. Such a target seemed improbable earlier in the innings, making Porel’s contribution all the more invaluable. Indeed, Porel aptly fulfilled the role of an ‘Impact sub,’ leaving a lasting impression with his stellar performance.
Kuldeep’s crafty spell
Defending a target of 175 on a good-looking wicket, it was important for the Capitals to pick up early wickets, which they did. When it came to the middle overs, Kuldeep took charge and bowled extremely well, returning with figures of 2/20 in his four overs. He could have easily taken his third wicket, but a dropped catch from Tristan Stubbs denied Kuldeep his third at long on. He bowled well, varied his pace effectively, used the crease wisely, and also varied his line and lengths to great effect, which is why he was the pick of the DC bowlers.
Curran’s match winning innings
Curran bowled the first over of the match, conceding 10 runs. However, he didn’t bowl a single over thereafter in the first innings. With the bat, he entered the field at number four during the powerplay overs. As a senior player, he took the responsibility of guiding his team to victory. The left-hander first forged a 42-run partnership to lead his team’s recovery. Even after two wickets fell quickly, Curran remained composed and played with responsibility, taking calculated risks to reach his fifty. He was dismissed in the penultimate over but not before bringing his team close to victory.