Rishabh Pant’s Remarkable Comeback Leads Delhi Capitals to Victory Over CSK In IPL 2024
Rishabh Pant showcased his mettle as he returned to play IPL 2024 and other competitive cricket after a harrowing car accident in December 2022.
The captain of the Capitals claims he took his time but never lost hope that he could win the game.
In his first game back following a near-fatal automobile accident in December 2022, Rishabh Pant had a brief appearance and scored a plodding 28 in his second game. However, against Chennai Super Kings, Pant scorched a 32-ball 51 to help the Delhi Capitals record their first victory of the year.
At one point, he was 23 off 23 but blasted his next eight balls for 28 runs, including a long-off skier.
At the post-match presentation ceremony, Pant stated, “You know, as a cricketer I don’t think about [feeling like being back], but at the same time I have to give my 100% each and every day.” Since I hadn’t played cricket for the previous year and a half to two years, I decided to take my time at first and allow myself adequate time.
“At the same time I kept believing that I could change the match at the end.”
Next, he was questioned about how long he had been away from the field.
Pant answered, “One and a half years.” “Because I have devoted my entire life to this, and I enjoy being on the field every day.”
“Yes, that one-and-a-half years was a wait but at the same time you’ve got to keep doing what you can as a cricketer and keep learning from it.”
Pant stated that he never gave thought to his inability to play cricket in the future.
“I think I always had self-belief that whatever happens in life, I need to be back on the ground,” he stated. “That was the thought process and I never thought about anything else.”
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Shaw fully committed himself to the event
After missing the Capitals’ first two games of the season, opener Prithvi Shaw made his first outing of the year. With a 27-ball 43 that featured two sixes and four fours, he celebrated.
“I think definitely he has been working hard from last two weeks and he put himself on the line all the way,” Pant added of Shaw. “And we thought that it’s time to give him a chance and he flourished today.”
Pant received a ton of attention for his “clinical” bowling demonstration.
With the ball, Khaleel Ahmed gave the Capitals the perfect start by dismissing Rachin Ravindra and Ruturaj Gaikwad in his opening three overs while conceding just nine runs.
That established the tone for a superb bowling display, which meant that the Capitals won by the same amount of runs even after MS Dhoni hammered Anrich Nortje for 20 runs in the last over.
“I believe today’s bowlers were really clinical. Yes, we did discuss how we can all grow from our mistakes, and I think we have,” Pant stated.
Axar Patel broke a 68-run partnership between Ajinkya Rahane and Daryl Mitchell in the 11th over, but not before the latter made a brilliant return catch. After coming on as a 14th wicket taker, Mukesh Kumar destroyed the pursuit by taking consecutive wickets of Sameer Rizvi and Rahane.
Mukesh took three wickets in the end, and he had a chance for a fourth, but Khaleel blew it to give Dhoni a break with his second delivery.
Regarding Mukesh’s position on the squad, Pant stated, “I think it will depend on match to match, but at the same time if Mukesh can bowl at the death it’s very nice.” “The good thing about today is that he got injured but he still came back to the field and bowled that superb over.”
