When Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel combined on Wednesday, the Delhi Capitals were 44/3 against the Gujarat Titans in 5.4 overs. Delhi managed to score another 180 runs in 14.2 overs for just one wicket at the conclusion of the innings. The significant improvement was mostly caused by Pant providing the most convincing proof of his fitness to play in the T20 World Cup as selection day approaches.
Pant has already placed his name in the hat for an India return at the major event by scoring two fifties and displaying sharpness behind the wickets in the first eight games for Delhi Capitals following a 14-month hiatus due to an automobile accident. More of the recognisable Pant was on display on Wednesday, flicking, pulling, and cutting the ball with the strength that had distinguished the wicketkeeper-batter prior to the break.
Delhi concluded at 224/4 with the 26-year-old still undefeated at 88 from 43 balls, his highest total of the season. Delhi needed just four more runs to win, as they restricted Gujarat to 220/8. Gujarat’s Sai Sudharsan, David Miller, and even Rashid Khan had their chances at bat, but in the end, Mukesh Kumar remained composed.
On one particular day, though, Pant stole the show as he seemed to particularly enjoy Mohit Sharma’s medium speed. He had already reached his half-century, off 34 balls, when he hit a slower full toss over long-on for six. In the last over, which ended with 31 runs, he hit four sixes and a four off the former India spinner. At the end, Sharma’s stats were an ugly 4-0-73-0.
Pant hit eight sixes that evening as the captain’s powerful display was enthusiastically received by both sides. It was almost a gift in disguise that he arrived with Delhi in a difficult situation. Pant is a batsman who is not at ease teeing off right away; instead, he is most threatening after he has given himself a few balls to get situated. That time was his on Wednesday.
Another important factor in Delhi’s recovery was Axar. Axar had only discreetly lamented this season’s lack of batting opportunities because of the Impact Player rule on Monday. This time, Axar was elevated to No. 3, suggesting that the Delhi management had heeded his request. The strategy paid off as Axar and Pant put up a 113-run partnership for the fourth wicket in only 68 deliveries.
At a location where Sunrisers Hyderabad had just thrashed 266/7, Axar and Pant needed to go for a high total. They successfully prevented Rashid and Noor Ahmad, the Afghan spin combo, from getting in a few quiet overs during the middle portion. When Axar slog-swept Rashid for a six over wide long-on, he took his first significant risk. Three overs later, Pant replicated same shot against Noor with the same outcome. Pant was also noticeable with his preferred pick-up shot over short fine leg and his vicious whip off his legs for a six over midwicket. Noor gave up 36 runs in three overs, while Rashid’s four overs yielded 35 runs.
GT also held back left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore since they had two left-hand hitters on the field. This is where it seems a little excessive to rely so much on match-ups. With four wickets in the previous game against Gujarat, Sai Kishore was declared the Player of the Match; nevertheless, he only played one over that evening, the 19th over of the innings. By the time that went for 22 runs, Delhi’s hitters were free to really destroy him.
After losing captain Shubman Gill in the second over, Wriddhiman Saha and Sudharsan combined to score 82 runs. However, GT’s middle order faltered and lost five wickets for 57 runs, as has been the case all season, leaving them needing 73 runs from the last four.
Yes, it was a hefty ask, but Miller and Rashid could handle it. In the 17th over, Miller dismissed Anrich Nortje, a fellow countryman, for 24 runs. He mentioned a 21-ball fifty during the over, which gave GT more hope that they may win. Nearly.
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