According to DC bowling coach James Hopes, Rishabh Pant’s wicketkeeping skills are on the rise, and his captaincy is displaying notable sharpness
Rishabh Pant’s captaincy abilities drew praise from both fans and critics alike during the match between Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals on Wednesday, April 17th.
On Wednesday, April 17th, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Delhi Capitals (DC) dominated Gujarat Titans (GT), restricting the former champions to a mere 89 runs before effortlessly chasing down the target with six wickets and 11.1 overs remaining. Rishabh Pant showcased his leadership and keeping prowess during the initial innings and then guided his team to victory with an unbeaten 16 runs off 11 balls in the second.
Opting to field first after winning the toss, Pant’s decision proved fruitful as Ishant Sharma and Mukesh Kumar wreaked havoc early on. With the Titans stumbling at four wickets down within the initial five overs, they struggled to regain momentum. Pant’s astute bowling changes and strategic field placements effectively stifled the hosts’ aggressive batting lineup, earning praise for his tactical acumen.
The 26-year-old displayed exceptional skills behind the stumps, grabbing a remarkable catch to dismiss the threatening David Miller off Ishant’s delivery. His agility was evident in his swift stumpings of Abhinav Manohar and Shahrukh Khan off Tristan Stubbs’ bowling in the ninth over. Pant maintained the momentum for his team, ensuring there was no let-up in intensity even after putting the Titans in a tight spot. Consequently, the Shubman Gill-led side succumbed to their lowest team total of the season under the relentless pressure applied by the Delhi-based franchise.
Following the game, Delhi’s bowling coach, James Hopes, showered praise on Pant, emphasizing that his absence last season left a significant gap. The former Australian all-rounder highlighted the southpaw’s continuous improvement across all facets of his game.
“Pant’s keeping is quite impressive, isn’t it? Last year, we struggled to fill that gap. It’s challenging to replace a world-class keeper, arguably the best wicketkeeper-batsman in the world. Now that he’s back, you can see improvements in every aspect of his game. His keeping is getting better, his captaincy is getting sharper, and his batting has been consistent since the start of the tournament,” Hopes stated, as quoted by India Today.
He’s getting into good form for the latter part of the tournament, and he’s leading the team effectively at the moment,” he added.
Pant’s exceptional all-around performance earned him the Player of the Match award. After surviving a near-fatal car accident in December 2022, which caused him to miss last year’s IPL, the charismatic cricketer has made a remarkable comeback in IPL 2024, showcasing his skills with both bat and captaincy for the Capitals.
Delhi Capitals poised to make a comeback at Arun Jaitley Stadium
Having played seven matches, Delhi Capitals have secured three victories and suffered four defeats. Their home games this season were hosted in Visakhapatnam, but now they’re gearing up to resume playing at their usual home ground, Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The upcoming clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, April 20, marks their return to their home turf for the remainder of their home fixtures.
The Capitals are gearing up for a series of three consecutive home games. Hopes anticipates securing crucial points during this upcoming stretch of home matches, as Pant and the team aim to stay competitive for a playoff spot.
We’re halfway through the season now. We discussed before the game that a victory tonight would elevate us in the standings. With three home games in Delhi over the next week and a half, we have a good opportunity ahead. The next challenge is against SRH, and we’re already preparing for it. If we perform well in this upcoming stretch, we’ll be right in contention for the top four,” Hopes remarked.
