Delhi Capitals Suffer Major Setback as Ishant Sharma Sustains Ankle Injury
In a major blow to the Delhi Capitals (DC), veteran fast bowler Ishant Sharma suffered an ankle injury during their opening fixture of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) against the Punjab Kings in Mullanpur, Chandigarh.
The incident occurred during the final over of the powerplay as Punjab Kings chased a target of 175 runs. Ishant collected a single off Mitchell Marsh’s delivery but twisted his right ankle while attempting to throw it back to the wicketkeeper.
The injury was severe, with Ishant collapsing to the ground in agony. The physio rushed to his aid and assisted him off the field.
Ishant’s injury is a significant setback for the Delhi Capitals, who are already facing a depleted squad due to the absence of Lungi Ngidi and Harry Brook. The team’s bowling options have been severely impacted, leaving captain Rishabh Pant with fewer resources.
Before the injury, Ishant had already made a significant impact on the match, bowling two overs for 16 runs and dismissing Shikhar Dhawan.
The injury to Ishant Sharma has raised concerns about the Delhi Capitals’ prospects for the remainder of the season. The franchise is hopeful that the injury is not severe and that Ishant will recover swiftly.
Meanwhile, English all-rounder Sam Curran played a pivotal role in the Punjab Kings’ victory over the Delhi Capitals. Curran’s aggressive half-century, crafted from just 47 balls, propelled Punjab Kings to chase down the target of 175 runs with four wickets in hand and four balls to spare.
Curran found valuable support from his compatriot, Liam Livingstone, who remained unbeaten on 38 runs off 21 balls, as the duo orchestrated a successful chase for Punjab Kings.
Earlier in the match, Delhi, led by the returning Pant, posted a total of 174 for nine after their innings. However, Pant failed to make a significant impact with the bat, and Punjab Kings capitalised on the opportunity to restrict the Delhi Capitals’ scoring.
