Star batter Rishabh Pant's blistering knock propelled him into the top three contenders for the Orange Cap in the 2024 IPL season. Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper continued his impressive comeback form, leading his team to a thrilling four-run victory against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Pant unleashed an unbeaten 88 runs from just 43 deliveries, anchoring the Delhi Capitals' batting display. His knock proved to be the difference-maker as DC chased down a formidable total set by the Titans. Partnering with Axar Patel, Pant stitched together a crucial 113-run partnership that laid the foundation for Delhi's strong showing. While Patel chipped in with a valuable 66 runs off 43 balls, Pant emerged as the top scorer for the Capitals in this high-scoring encounter.
The left-hander displayed his aggressive batting style in the final over, taking on veteran fast bowler Mohit Sharma. Pant smashed a flurry of boundaries, including four sixes and a four, to amass a staggering 31 runs off the final six deliveries. This late onslaught effectively sealed the win for the DC.
Rishabh Pant's batting heroics
Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant led from the front with a match-winning 88-run knock, powering his team to a formidable total of 224/4 in their 20 overs. This dominant performance propelled him up the Orange Cap leaderboard, currently sitting comfortably in third place with 342 runs in just nine matches.
Pant trails only Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (349 runs in eight games) and former Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli (reigning king with 379 runs in eight matches). Gujarat Titans batter Sai Sudharsan has also made his mark, surpassing Travis Head to secure the fourth spot.
Just a day prior, Ruturaj Gaikwad had surged to the second position behind Kohli with his unbeaten 107 against Lucknow Super Giants. The battle for the Orange Cap promises to be exciting as the IPL season progresses.
ALSO READ: Kuldeep Yadav reveals how Rishabh Pant helped him dismiss Gujarat Titans' finisher Rahul Tewatia
Here's how the Orange Cap race is shaping up after DC vs GT's clash:
No. | Player | M | Ins | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100/50 | 4s/6s |
1 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 379 | 113* | 63.17 | 252 | 150.39 | 1/2 | 36/16 | |
| 2 | Ruturaj Gaikwad | 8 | 8 | 2 | 348 | 107* | 58.00 | 244 | 142.62 | 1/2 | 38/10 |
| 3 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 342 | 88* | 48.85 | 212 | 161.32 | 0/3 | 27/21 | |
| 4 | Sai Sudharsan | 9 | 9 | 0 | 334 | 65 | 37.11 | 259 | 128.95 | 0/1 | 35/5 |
| 5 | Travis Head | 6 | 6 | 0 | 324 | 102 | 54.00 | 150 | 216.00 | 1/2 | 39/18 |
ALSO READ: India's domestic cricketers to get upto Rs 1 crore salary? BCCI to come up with bold move
Who clinched the Orange Cap in IPL 2023?
During the 2023 IPL season, the current Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill delivered an exceptional performance by scoring an impressive 890 runs, earning him the Orange Cap as the tournament's top run-getter. Close on his heels was Royal Challengers Bangalore's Faf du Plessis, who showcased his prowess with 730 runs, claiming the second spot in the Orange Cap competition. Devon Conway of Chennai Super Kings also had a noteworthy season, accumulating 672 runs to secure third place. Royal Challengers Bangalore's Virat Kohli continued to prove his mettle as a formidable batsman by finishing in fourth place with 639 runs. Completing the top five was the emerging talent Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made a significant impact by gathering 625 runs and establishing himself as a noteworthy player in the IPL.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
WATCH: Pat Cummins starts hilarious banter with Virat Kohli ahead of SRH vs RCB clash
