In a pulsating Indian Premier League encounter, Rishabh Pant’s masterful unbeaten half-century (88*) steered Delhi Capitals to a thrilling victory over Gujarat Titans on Wednesday. Leading from the front, Pant orchestrated a formidable partnership of 113 runs with Axar Patel, setting up a formidable total of 224 for 4 in a must-win clash.
Pant’s impeccable innings, featuring five boundaries and eight towering sixes, showcased his explosive nature. This timely performance served as a compelling reminder to the India selectors ahead of the much-anticipated T20 World Cup squad announcement.
Axar Patel, promoted to the number three position, played a pivotal role alongside Pant, contributing a brisk 66 off 43 balls. Their aggressive batting approach set the tone for Delhi’s commanding total, putting immense pressure on Gujarat’s bowling attack.
In response, Gujarat’s Sai Sudarshan and David Miller fought valiantly with impressive half-centuries, keeping their team in the hunt. Sudarshan’s explosive 65 off 29 balls and Miller’s quickfire 55 off 23 provided hope, but the escalating required run rate proved challenging.
Despite Rashid Khan’s heroic cameo in the final overs, Gujarat Titans fell short by a narrow margin of four runs, with Delhi’s Mukesh Kumar holding his nerve in the tense final over.
This crucial victory propelled Delhi Capitals to sixth place in the standings, leapfrogging the Titans, who also have eight points but a lower net run rate. With their playoff hopes reignited, Delhi will face a struggling Mumbai Indians side in their next encounter, while Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru lock horns on Thursday.
