Rishabh Pant, the dynamic skipper of Delhi Capitals, is on the cusp of creating history in the Indian Premier League (IPL). As the Capitals take on Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Thursday, Pant is poised to become the first cricketer in the world to play 100 IPL matches for a single franchise.
Pant, 26, returns to the IPL arena after missing last year’s edition due to injuries sustained in a road accident. With 99 appearances under his belt, he stands shoulder to shoulder with Amit Mishra as the most-capped players for Delhi. However, this match will see Pant surpass Mishra’s record and complete a century of IPL appearances for the franchise.
Since assuming the captaincy in 2021 following Shreyas Iyer’s injury, Pant has been a stalwart for Delhi. In 98 innings, he has amassed 2856 runs, emerging as the franchise’s leading run-scorer ahead of David Warner. His tally includes one century and 15 fifties, making him a formidable force at the crease.
Pant boasts an impressive record of 262 fours and 129 sixes, making him the only player to surpass the century mark in maximums for Delhi. Furthermore, he holds the distinction of the highest individual score in IPL by a Delhi Capitals batter.
Beyond his batting prowess, Pant has also taken 62 catches and effected 19 stumpings, proving his worth with the keeping gloves. Despite a setback in their opening fixture against Punjab Kings, where Pant managed 18 runs from 13 balls, his return as captain has injected renewed energy into the Delhi Capitals’ camp.
Eager to bounce back and secure their first points in IPL 2024, Pant will be eager to deliver a commanding performance against Rajasthan Royals on a historic night for the wicket-keeping batsman.
