Pant In Spotlight As Delhi Capitals Play Punjab Kings
CHANDIGARH: Rishabh Pant’s resilient return to the cricket field in multiple roles will be the focus when Delhi Capitals take on Punjab Kings in their IPL opener here on Saturday, both teams hoping to erase the disappointment of below-par performances in the last season.
Pant’s miraculous escape from a life-threatening car crash in December 2022 has now become a tale of perseverance after the big-hitting wicketkeeperbatter made a faster than expected recovery to be back in action.
He has been cleared to play as a keeper-batter and has the additional responsibility of captaining the side, taking back the position from David Warner, who led DC to a ninth-place finish in the 10-team tournament last year.
It has taken 15 months of hard work, courage and determination for Pant to be ready to lead DC again. He is a massive shot in the arm for the team whose bestever performance in the IPL till date is a runners-up finish in 2020.
It is not yet clear whether
Pant will start his keeping duties immediately. In case case he doesn’t, DC will fall back on either West Indian Shai Hope or South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs.
DC have a potent fast bowling arsenal, backed up by an explosive batting lineup.
Warner, who recently retired from the Test cricket, will be hoping to make a mark and secure a spot in the T20 World Cup-bound Australian side.
In Prithvi Shaw, Mitchell Marsh, Pant and Stubbs, DC have explosive batting lineup, while their bowling attack will be led by Anrich Nortje in the company of Indian veteran Ishant Sharma,
Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel.
The Punjab trophy cabinet is empty too. They have made it to the final only once, in 2014, losing to Kolkata Knight Riders on that occasion.
After finishing sixth for four consecutive seasons between 2019 and 2022, PBKS dropped to eighth in 2023, and will look to turn things around this time.
In Shikhar Dhawan, PBKS have a skipper who would be desperate to prove a point after being side-lined from the national set-up.
PBKS have a new vicecaptain in Jitesh Sharma but Jonny Bairstow’s form would be a concern.