IPL 2022: Close to perfect game for us as batting unit – Rishabh Pant

Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant feels it was close to perfect game for them as a batting unit after they defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 21 runs at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai on Thursday. Delhi posted a formidable score of 207 runs after they were put into bat by Kane Williamson.

Delhi didn’t get off to a great start as Mandeep Singh, who was replacing Prithvi Shaw in the final XI, was dismissed without troubling the scorers. However, David Warner – playing against his former franchise – kept finding the boundaries to take Delhi to 50-2 after the end of the PowerPlay overs.

Rishabh Pant played a good cameo of 26 runs off just 16 balls as he took the attack against Shreyas Gopal. However, Pant once again failed to convert his start. Rovman Powell, who has impressed in the last couple of innings was then promoted in the batting order.

Powell got off a sedate start as he scored 21 off the first 19 balls he faced. Furthermore, he had the rub of the green on his side as he was dropped by Kane Williamson at mid-off on the bowling of Umran Malik, who bowled the fastest ball of the season at 156.9 kmph during the game.

Powell and Warner went beserk in the last five overs as they took the attack against SRH bowlers. The duo added an unbeaten alliance of 122 runs off just 70 balls to get their past the 200-run mark. Warner scored a fine knock of 92 runs off 58 balls while Powell added 67 off only 35 balls.

On the other hand, SRH were always on the backfoot as a batting unit and they added only 35 runs for the loss of two wickets in the first six overs to put themselves behind the eighth-ball. Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram tried to guide their team but they had too much to do.

Rishabh Pant said in the post-match presentation, “There is always room for improvement, but it’s close to a perfect game for us as a batting unit. I was calm about myself. In high chases, the other team needs 10-12 runs per over, it’s difficult to hit till the 20th over. I was telling the bowlers to be calm. (On Warner) The way he batted, the way he paced the innings, it’s one of the best innings. We knew what he (Powell) can give us, we backed him and he’s coming out with flying colours now. We are just taking one game at a time and trying to give our 100%. I got out to a full-toss, that’s part and parcel of the game. Good and important win for us.”

Delhi Capitals will next face Chennai Super Kings at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai on Sunday.