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The inaugural Delhi Premier League witnessed an unusual sight as renowned wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant took to the bowling crease. Representing Purani Dilli 6, Pant bowled the final over in their match against South Delhi Superstarz, a match that the former ultimately lost by three wickets. This rare display of bowling from Pant occurred in a largely ceremonial capacity as South Delhi required just a single run to secure victory. The over commenced with a full toss on the batter's pads, which was gently pushed towards long-on, allowing the batsman to complete the winning run.
Prior to his brief foray into bowling, Pant faced criticism for his performance with the bat. He managed only 35 runs off 32 deliveries, a strike-rate of 109 on what was described as a flat surface. This performance attracted negative comments from fans on social media, highlighting the expectations placed upon him as a powerful hitter. Despite hitting four boundaries and a six, the low strike-rate, considered sluggish for a batsman of his caliber, fueled the disappointment among fans.
Pant's participation in the Delhi Premier League comes after a difficult period following a car accident he suffered on New Year's Eve 2022. His recent return to competitive cricket saw him feature in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) and then travel to the USA and West Indies for the ICC T20 World Cup, playing a crucial role in India's successful campaign. His contributions were acknowledged through felicitations by the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rohan Jaitley and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla.
Although Pant's participation in the Delhi Premier League was limited to a single match, he is set to feature in the upcoming Duleep Trophy, beginning on September 5. He will join Team B in this tournament. The Delhi Premier League match itself saw South Delhi Superstarz emerge victorious, thanks to half-centuries from Ayush Badoni and Priyansh Arya. Their combined efforts helped South Delhi chase down a challenging target of 198 runs with five balls to spare. Purani Dilli 6 had earlier posted a respectable score of 197/3 in 20 overs, powered by Arpit Rana's 59 runs off 41 balls and Vansh Bedi's quickfire 47 runs off 19 balls.
Source: Rishabh Pant rolls his arms after sluggish show with bat in Delhi Premier League - Watch