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Rishabh Pant roared with a magnificent fifty to help Delhi Capitals (CSK) beat Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their IPL 2024 match to announce his comeback in Vizag on March 31. Pant-led Delhi Capitals earned a 20-run win over Ruturaj Gaikwad's CSK to record their first victory of the IPL 2024. This victory was fueled by a remarkable performance from captain Pant, who marked his return from a serious car accident with a crucial fifty.
Pant led by example, showcasing his leadership qualities and batting prowess. His knock of 51 runs came off just 32 balls, providing a much-needed boost to the Delhi Capitals' innings. This impressive display followed a stellar performance by fellow left-hander David Warner, who contributed a vital 52 runs.
Thanks to the combined efforts of Pant and Warner, DC reached a competitive total of 191/5 at the end of their innings in Visakhapatnam. This strong foundation proved too much for CSK despite MS Dhoni's late blitz.
DC bowlers delivered a stellar performance, restricting CSK to a modest total of 171/6. This impressive bowling display secured their first victory of the season and ended Chennai's two-match winning streak.
After the match, Pant himself acknowledged taking some time to adjust to the high-pressure situation before unleashing his signature aggressive batting.
Rishabh Pant on his comeback fifty
"Took my time initially because I haven't played much cricket, but I kept believing I could change the match. [Hand-off-the-bat six] One and a half years, this is something I have built my life on. Still have to keep learning as a cricketer," Pant said in the post-match presentation.
Pant while commenting on Prithvi Shaw's return said that he has been working hard and hence the team management decided to give him a chance. Notably, Shaw notched fiery 43 runs off 27 balls to give DC a cracking start.
“The bowlers were clinical, we talked about learning from mistakes. [Shaw opening] He's been working hard, we thought time to give him his chance and he took it. [Mukesh] Depends on the match-ups but he stands up [at the death], came back well despite being hit,” Pant signed off.
Coming into the match with scores of 18 and 28 in his previous two outings, Pant started cautiously. However, he gradually found his rhythm, particularly towards the end. Pant dispatched three consecutive boundaries (two fours and a six) off Pathirana, although the bowler managed to get his revenge on the next ball. Despite this brief setback, Pant's measured aggression proved instrumental in propelling Delhi to a competitive total.
DC will next face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 3.
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