DC vs CSK: Rishabh Pant proves his 'spidey sense' is intact, hits 1st fifty after 465 days in friend-cum-mentor MS Dhoni's presence

Ace batter Rishabh Pant finally ended his long wait for a fifty, scoring an incredible half-century in the IPL 2024 clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday, March 31. This knock comes after a gap of 465 days since his previous fifty-plus score, which was a 93 against Bangladesh in December 2022. Pant's return to form is a welcome sight for DC fans, especially after ordinary outings in the team's first two matches. 

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DC captain displayed glimpses of his past brilliance, smashing 51 runs off just 32 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes. This knock serves as a reminder of his destructive potential and could be a turning point for both Pant and the Delhi Capitals' season. Pant's knock was special for two big reasons. He smashed his fifty after coming from a long gap following a horrific car accident in December in 2022. Another reason is, the star wicketkeeper-batter struck his fifty in front of his mentor-cum-friend MS Dhoni. 

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Delhi Capitals' captain finally found his form with a blistering knock as he reached his fifty off just 31 balls in a display of aggressive batting. However, his joy was short-lived as he was dismissed on the very next delivery while attempting a chip shot off Matheesha Pathirana. The mistimed shot resulted in a swirling catch at long-off, expertly taken by Ruturaj Gaikwad.

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Just before his dismissal, Pant had set the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam alight with three consecutive boundaries off Pathirana. The first was a towering six over long-on, followed by another powerful four to the same region. The final ball of the over, which brought up his fifty, was dispatched to the point boundary. Pant's knock, along with fifties from David Warner and a valuable 43 from Prithvi Shaw, propelled the Delhi Capitals to a respectable total of 191/5 after their 20 overs. This score will provide a strong platform for their bowlers to defend and secure a much-needed victory.

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