Rishabh Pant couldn’t conceal his disappointment following Delhi Capitals’ (DC) 12-run defeat against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) clash at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Notably, this fixture marked a significant milestone for Pant, as it was his 100th IPL appearance for Delhi Capitals, a team he’s been associated with since 2016, making him the franchise’s first player to achieve this feat.
Expressing his sentiments post-match, Rishabh Pant acknowledged the team’s frustration after suffering their second consecutive loss in IPL 2024. “Definitely disappointed. The best thing we can do from this is learn from it,” Pant remarked, encapsulating the team’s determination to bounce back.
Rajasthan Royals’ batting prowess was highlighted by Riyan Parag’s stellar 45-ball 84 not out, where he showcased impeccable strokeplay, accumulating seven fours and six sixes to register his highest IPL score. Despite a shaky start at 36/3 in the eighth over, Parag’s resilient innings propelled RR to a formidable total of 185/5.
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Rishabh Pant commended his bowlers’ efforts but acknowledged the challenge posed by RR’s late onslaught. “The bowlers did really well till 15-16 overs, batters sometimes go on at the death and score quickly, that happened in this game,” Pant observed, reflecting on the match dynamics.
Responding to queries regarding strategic decisions, particularly the timing of deploying South African pacer Anrich Nortje, Pant emphasized the team’s approach to utilizing bowling resources effectively. “There are other options, we wanted Nortje to bowl at the death and sometimes you can go for runs, hopefully, we can do better in the next match,” Pant elaborated, highlighting the tactical considerations.
Despite a promising start from openers David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, who contributed with a solid foundation, DC faltered in the middle overs, losing crucial wickets. Pant acknowledged the significance of Warner and Marsh’s partnership but lamented the inability to capitalize on the momentum.
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“Marsh and Warner gave a good start, but we lost a few wickets in the middle overs and in the end, we had too many runs to cover up,” RIshabh Pant conceded, recognizing the team’s missed opportunities. The match outcome continued the trend of home teams securing victories in all nine matches of the tournament thus far, underscoring the significance of home advantage in IPL 2024.
