Rajasthan Royals (RR) were left stunned by Rishabh Pant, whose blistering 78 gave Delhi Capitals (DC) a six-wicket win over the visiting team and pole position in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 at the Sawai Mansingh stadium, Jaipur on Monday.
For Royals, Ajinkya Rahane roared back to form with a scintillating century and propelled his side to 191/6 in 20 overs.
First innings: After put in to bat first, Rahane spearheaded Rajasthan innings after getting a life on 16, the culprit being Ishant Sharma, who dropped a sitter at short fine-leg. The drop hurt the visitors, but Delhi did well to prevent RR from going past 200. Rahane remained not out on 105 off 63 balls, decorating his knock with three sixes and 11 fours, while Steve Smith contributed 50 off 32 deliveries.
Second innings: In reply, Delhi got off to a flying start with Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw forging a 72-run stand. Dhawan scored 54 off 27 while Shaw hit a well-poised 42 off 39 balls. However, it was Pant’s blinder – 78 off 36 balls – which sealed the contest for the visitors. In his brief but powerful innings, Pant smashed six fours and four sixes to nullify Rahane’s ton and take DC to victory.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
And @RishabPant777 isn’t in the World Cup squad !!!!!! 👀 #IPL2019 #Bonkers
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 22, 2019
After Mahi’s heroics yesterday, the turn for his prodigy to show what he is made of. Rishabh Pant- Bowlers ka aur Match ka bhi Anth. #RRvDC
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 22, 2019
Game changing innings by @rishabPant777. Great striking and smart rotation of strike by a special player. Not to forget that fantastic start by @SDhawan25 and a steady innings by @PrithviShaw. #RRvDC pic.twitter.com/7ydcwIPhtF
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) April 22, 2019
What a knock by @RishabPant777! You are a born match winner You deserve a place in the word cup! Match winners might not perform every game but when they do they will take your breath away! India will miss your services in England this summer! #IPL2019 #RRvDC
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) April 22, 2019
Well done @RishabPant777 great skills 🏏👍 @DelhiCapitals
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 22, 2019
Rishabh pant @RishabPant777 @ParthJindal11 u deserve this .. u r wow pic.twitter.com/tTYgWrZZpH
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) April 22, 2019
Two great things happened in the match which am really happy for, Rahane & Rishab both getting big ones that's very good for there confidence & for the tournament. @BCCI
— Chetan Sharma (@chetans1987) April 22, 2019
Rishabh Pant..boy… this guy is hard to fathom but such a joy to watch! What an innings! 👏👏👏🙏🙏🙏#RRvDC
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) April 22, 2019
When you see @RishabPant777 Pant bat like this, you wonder how he could be left out of the WC19 squad…
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 22, 2019
Well played @RishabPant777 !! A bat talks the best language 😊
— Anirudh Chaudhry (@AnirudhChaudhry) April 22, 2019
5th away win and what a spectacular innings from a very special player, Rishabh Pant. Fantastic start from @SDhawan25 and a good hand from @PrithviShaw . Happy team #RRvsDC pic.twitter.com/Nx7EVpUFbg
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 22, 2019
Rishabh Pant will be very proud of this innings. Difference between promise and what a proper pro does. Look forward to seeing many more of these.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 22, 2019
Pant not named in India’s World Cup squad but a six off Jofra Archer’s last ball and a six to win it. That was box office for @DelhiCapitals #RRvDC #IPL #IPL2019 A cricketer you want to watch.
— Alison Mitchell (@AlisonMitchell) April 22, 2019
That was a brilliant batting performance by Delhi Capitals who have won five of their last six matches. Last season they displayed enormous potential but finished last—this season they are top with three games left to play. They are coming of age in front of our eyes. #IPL #RRvDC
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) April 22, 2019
Fantastic knock by Rishabh Pant — 78* off 36 balls. Finished the game and took responsibility.
Never panicked. Wish he played such decisive knocks before would definitely have been in the WC side. Nevertheless he’ll only improve. @DelhiCapitals are on a roll. Great win #RRvDC— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) April 22, 2019
What a game @DelhiCapitals great run chase once again top batting @SDhawan25 paa and @PrithviShaw 👏👏👏 but this guy tonight @RishabPant777 very very mature knock top batting bro many more to come 😊👏👏 @IPL
— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3) April 22, 2019
If only Pant had finished a few more games before the World Cup squad was picked…..and Khaleel had played a few more. #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/BollywoodGandu/status/1120387116792516608
Ajinkya lives upto his name. INVINCIBLE!
105* What a knock! So happy to see @ajinkyarahane88 break the shackles and let his bat do the talking. #Rahane #RRvDC— Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) April 22, 2019
Brilliant 100 by @ajinkyarahane88!! I’ve always admired his cricket and his work ethic. I wish he was in our WC squad too! #RRvDC pic.twitter.com/TBsYA2bSMv
— Nikhil Chinapa (@nikhilchinapa) April 22, 2019
Imagine Rishbah Pant being part of Indian squad for the World Cup.
Dhoni, Pant, Pandya all in great form for the finishing role, to go with the heavy top-three of Rohit, Dhawan, Kohli.
That would be a complete batting unit.
How much will India miss Pant? #RRvDC
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 22, 2019
