Delhi Capitals on Sunday registered their first win in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 as they defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 20 runs in Visakhapatnam. Rishabh Pant & Co. produced an all-round show at their second home, the ACA-VDA Stadium, to outsmart the defending champions and collect their first points.
Openers David Warner and Prithvi Shaw overcame a slow start to share a 93-run opening stand before Pant’s 32-ball 51 powered DC to a competitive 191 for 5. Later, left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed (2/21) set the tone for DC’s defence with his twin strikes in the Powerplay which wad followed by pacer Mukesh Kumar’s superb spell that saw him finish with bowling figures of 3/21.
‘Always had the self-belief that I’ll come back’
Pant returned to competitive cricket in this IPL after recovering from a life-threatening road mishap in December 2022, and this was his first fifty in three games this season. Speaking at the post-match presentation, he said he always had the belief that he would return to the field.
“One and a half years…this is something I have built my life on. I still have to keep learning as a cricketer. I had self-belief that whatever happens, I have to come back to the ground and I didn’t think about anything else,” Pant said during the post-match presentation.
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The DC skipper seemed to struggle a bit initially but he accelerated in towards the end of the innings as 43 runs came in the last three overs.
“As a cricketer, I’ve to give my 100 percent. Took some time initially as I haven’t played much cricket in the last one-and-a-half years,” he added.
Credit to the bowlers
Elated over his team’s first win, Pant gave credit to his bowlers for turning the momentum in DC’s favour.
“Bowlers have been clinical today. We’ve learnt from our mistake,” Pant said at the post-match presentation.
Trust on Prithvi
Delhi made a couple of changes to their squad as they took on the defending champions. They brought in Prithvi Shaw in the playing XI and he smashed a 27-ball 43, giving a terrific start to the team. Pant said the opening batter was rewarded for his hard work.
“He’s been working hard for the last two weeks. We thought it’s time to give him a chance and he flourished,” Pant said.
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