As the Delhi Capitals (DC) team bus approached the Arun Jaitley Stadium for their scheduled practice session, a downpour forced a delay. The respite provided cooler conditions for the Rishabh Pant-led side, allowing Pant and head coach Ricky Ponting to engage in intense discussions with their fast bowlers: Khaleel Ahmed, Anrich Nortje, Mukesh Kumar, and Ishant Sharma.
These talks stemmed from the alarming number of runs conceded by DC’s bowlers in recent matches. Against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), they surrendered 272 runs, while Mumbai Indians (MI) amassed 234. In their latest encounter with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Delhi’s bowlers were punished for 266 runs in 20 overs.
The next challenge for DC’s bowlers is the Gujarat Titans (GT), who will be playing on a pitch that has witnessed high-scoring matches in the past. GT captain Shubman Gill, coach Ashish Nehra, and Pant were seen examining the wicket, anticipating another run-fest.
Amidst the batting-friendly conditions, Pant himself will be eager to capitalize. He is currently DC’s leading scorer with 254 runs in eight innings, striking at an impressive 150.29. His fitness and wicketkeeping skills have also improved significantly.
Pant’s performances are crucial as he aims to secure a spot in India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. “His batting is getting better,” said Ponting. “He is too good a player and can have too much of an impact on the game for India.”
However, Pant faces competition from Sanju Samson, KL Rahul, Jitesh Sharma, and Dinesh Karthik for the wicketkeeper-batter role. To strengthen his case, Pant needs to maintain his consistency and increase his tempo.
The previous encounter between DC and GT in Ahmedabad resulted in a lopsided victory for Delhi, who bowled out Gujarat for a mere 89 runs and chased down the target in 8.5 overs. The Capitals will be hoping for a similar outcome in their upcoming match.
