Recovery from setbacks is never easy, much less returning to form after suffering a near-fatal injury and taking a year-plus vacation. The Delhi Caps captain, Rishabh Pant, has shown perfect form with very little signs of rustiness since making his comeback to cricket in the IPL in 2024.
With the exception of a few appearances, Pant appears to have nearly reached his peak again. In IPL 2024, match 40 had numerous moments where the Southpaw batsman-wicketkeeper took everyone down memory lane by leading from the front and scoring 88* (43), smashed by five fours and eight maximums.
The final over of Pant’s innings, a 30-run over against Mohit Sharma, was also featured. Their side won their fourth game of the season thanks to his outstanding leadership and two big grabs in the second inning. Not unexpectedly, the southpaw was named Player of the Match.
Pant told the broadcasters, in a video that the Indian Premier League put up on its official website, that he enjoyed his time out in the middle and was happy with his performance. Pant was speaking with head coach Ricky Ponting. After the sad event and the resulting injury he sustained, he said that what mattered most to him was getting back on the pitch and performing well. In addition, he acknowledged that a persistent concern that kept him from sleeping was a dread of stagnation.
“(His knock of 88* in 43 deliveries) I absolutely love it. It is impossible for me to give myself credit. I find it important to be on the pitch, especially in light of my injury. I told myself when I was hurt that I should be moving, thinking, and looking better when I got back. The fact that I shouldn’t be in the same spot at night is something that keeps me up at night, Pant said.
He is there for us and always raises his hands. Rishabh Pant on Axar Patel
Axar Patel was another key player in DC’s narrow victory; after being upgraded to the No. 3 position, he showed great ability and set the tone with a commanding 66 off 43, recording his greatest IPL score in the process. Pant praised the way Axar conducted himself and his fighting spirit for the team, never backing down from fulfilling his role to the fullest and taking full responsibility during various predicaments. This was an implicit reference to the lack of runs Axar has made and his recent lean patch with the bat.
Also read: My playing 11 for the T20 World Cup includes Rishabh Pant: Deep Dasgupta
“I enjoyed Axar’s fifty. He was not receiving enough runs and was also experiencing ups and downs. Occasionally, inquiries concerning it are made. He is someone who supports all statements made about him. When assigned a task or placed under duress, he is always there. The left-hander continued, “He always raises his hands and supports us.
India
