Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Rishabh Pant played a crucial knock to help his team beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by six wickets in their IPL 2024 match at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Friday (April 12).
Chasing 168 to win, the southpaw scored 41 off 24 balls and added 77 runs for the third wicket with debutant Jake Fraser-McGurk (55 off 35) as DC got over the line with 11 deliveries to spare.
Pant, who made his comeback to competitive cricket in the ongoing IPL after recovering from a life-threatening car accident, smashed four boundaries and two sixes during his match-winning knock against LSG.
The highlight of his innings was the reverse scoop he hit off LSG all-rounder Marcus Stoinis to accumulate four runs.
With this stroke, the dashing left-hander gave a glimpse of his usual best. It was such an audacious shot that DC’s Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly was also left stunned.
Gangluy got out of his seat in the dugout and had a smile on his face while standing near the boundary rope after Pant executed the reverse scoop to perfection.
Here’s the video:
Rishabh Pant was a relieved captain as DC recorded their second win in six games this season. They moved to the ninth spot in the 10-team points table after this victory.
“Little relief, we wanted a win badly. I was talking to the boys saying we need to think like champions, we need to keep fighting hard,” Pant said at the post-match presentation.
“(On bowling) We have phases where we are not up to the mark, some individuals have to take responsibility for that. However, we stick together as a group. Some things you can control, some things we can't,” he added.
Talking about the team combination, the DC skipper said: “I think we are getting closer to the right XI, but we've had so many injuries in this group. However, you can't keep complaining about that.”
Pant was also effusive in praise of Fraser-McGurk, who impressed one and all with a half-century on IPL debut.
“Hopefully, we've found our new number 3, haven't thought too much about it. Hope he can continue,” he concluded.
