New Delhi: Team India wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant had a disappointing outing for his Purani Dilli 6 on his debut in the inaugural Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2024 on Saturday. Pant managed to score only 35 off 32 balls in his side’s clash against South Delhi Superstarz in the opening match of the season. Pant’s struggles against spin were left exposed in the game as he failed to fire against the spinners.
Expectations were high from Pant, who was leading his team Purani Dilli-6 in the match. However, the left-hander looked far from his usual best as he found it difficult to unleash against the spinners. Pant’s 35-run knock was laced with 4 fours and a solitary six and came at a disappointing strike rate of 109.37.
It was a forgetful night for Pant as the explosive left-hander was the only batter from his young team who failed to score at quick pace in the game. Opener Arpit Rana smashed a quickfire 59 off 41 balls at a strike rate of 143.90 while all others, barring Pant managed to strike at over 150 to help Purani Dilli-6 post a strong total of 197 runs on the board.
Pant was heavily criticised on Twitter for his struggles against spin with fans pointing out how the left-hander looked ‘clueless’ against the spinners. The India wicket-keeper survived a few close chances off the bowling of Ayush Badoni and mystery spinner Digvesh Rathi in the game.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Rishabh Pant’s struggles on DPL debut:
On a flat deck in the first game of DPL Pant is 24 off 27. This is not the IPL, this is not T20I. This is a state T20 league. He’s now won the T20I WC win for India and yet here he is. He can’t play spin at all. And this is not good news for the ICT.
— Kshitij Ojha (@Kshitij070) August 17, 2024
Pant needs to do the training Dhruv did. Play 200 odd balls of spin. He has lost his touch. #RishabhPant
— Abhinandan Nahata (@khelgyani_abhi) August 18, 2024
Rishabh Pant has been struggling so far. 15*(22). Scoring runs has not been easy for Pant against South Delhi’s spin duo. He has been close to getting out several times, surviving against Badoni and Digvesh https://t.co/rJgfqCJEIn
— Varun Giri (@Varungiri0) August 17, 2024
Pant looking absolutely clueless against the spinners.
— Kaushik Kashyap (@CricKaushik_) August 17, 2024
South Delhi Superstarz beat Purani Dilli-6 by 3 wickets
Badoni-led South Delhi Superstarz thrashed Pant’s Purani Dilli-6 by three wickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Skipper Badoni led from the front in the run chase as he smashed a brilliant knock of 57 runs off 29 balls to help his team chase down the target of 198 runs with 5 balls to spare. Opener Priyansh Arya also starred in the chase with a sensational 30-ball 57 laced with 4 sixes and 3 fours.
Rishabh Pant’s struggles against spin was left exposed as he managed only 35 runs off 32 balls for Purani Dilli 6 in their match against South Delhi Superstarz in the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2024 on Saturday. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
