• Sportzyverse
• Cricket news, IPL 2024
• 04/01/2024
• 0 Comments

After a brief stint in his initial match following a life-threatening car accident in December 2022 and a hard-fought 28 in the subsequent game, Rishabh Pant blazed a remarkable 32-ball 51 as the Delhi Capitals clinched their first victory against the Chennai Super Kings.

At one point, Pant was 23 off 23 balls, but he unleashed a flurry of strokes in his next eight deliveries, accumulating 28 runs before eventually miscuing a shot to long-off.

“See, 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,” Pant expressed during the post-match presentation ceremony. “So what I did was I took my time initially because I haven’t played much cricket in the last one-and-a-half to two years so I thought I have to give myself enough time.

“At the same time I kept believing that I could change the match at the end.”

When asked about the duration he waited to return to the field, Pant replied, “One-and-a-half years. Because every day I love to be on the field and this is something I have depended my life on.

“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.”

Reflecting on his journey, Pant mentioned that he never harbored concerns about not being able to play cricket again. “I think I always had self-belief that whatever happens in life, I need to be back on the ground,” he emphasized. “That was the thought process and I never thought about anything else.”

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Prithvi Shaw receives Captain Rishabh Pant’s Praise

Prithvi Shaw made a notable contribution at the top of the order, scoring a brisk 43 off 27 balls, including two sixes and four boundaries. Pant praised Shaw’s efforts, acknowledging his hard work and determination.

“I think definitely he has been working hard from last two weeks and he put himself on the line all the way,” Pant remarked about Shaw’s performance. “And we thought that it’s time to give him a chance and he flourished today.”

Pant also commended the bowlers for their clinical display. Khaleel Ahmed’s early breakthroughs set the tone for the Capitals’ bowling performance, while Mukesh Kumar’s three crucial wickets derailed the CSK chase.

“The good thing about today is that he got injured but he still came back to the field and bowled that superb over,” Pant remarked on Mukesh Kumar’s resilience despite suffering an injury during the match.