IPL has always been blessed with the world’s greatest cricketers, it’s hard to find matches that focus solely on one player in his 17-year-old but illustrious tenure. Match No. 2 of IPL 2024 between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings is all about Rishabh Pant and so much more about him that this could be the first such example.
Pant is making a comeback after 15 months. He narrowly escaped a horrific car accident. He remained on crutches for several months. It took a few more months to hold the cricket bat and a few more months to be declared ready for the IPL. He is giving a tremendous but ultimately disappointing display of patience, courage and determination.
A unique mix of relief and excitement amongst fans and experts to see Pant back on the cricket field. Will he still be able to hit sixes with one hand? Will he be able to last the entire tournament? Will he be able to keep the wicket? There are questions, but there is also satisfaction to see DC ready to lead again.
DC will rely on West Indies’ Shai Hope or South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs if he fails to do so.
DC has a powerful fast bowling arsenal, but Anrich Nortje, their leader, is yet to come to India.
Warner, who has recently retired from Test cricket, will be hoping to leave his mark and cement his place in the Australian team heading into the T20 World Cup.
DC has an explosive batting line-up in the form of Mitchell Marsh, Prithvi Shaw, Pant and Stubbs, while Mukesh Kumar, experienced Ishant Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav and Anrich Nortje will lead the bowling attack along with Indian Axar Patel.
(If batting first) DC Likely
Rishabh Pant (captain), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, (wicketkeeper), Akshar Patel, Prithvi Shaw, Tristan Stubbs, Abhishek Porel, Lalit Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma.
(If bowling first) DC likely Xl
Rishabh Pant (captain, wicketkeeper), Mitchell Marsh, David Warner, Khaleel Ahmed, Prithvi Shaw, Abhishek Porel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Lalit Yadav, Ishant Sharma.
Look to shed past baggage PBKS
The Punjab Trophy cabinet is also empty. They have reached the finals only once, in 2014, losing on that occasion to Kolkata Knight Riders.
After finishing sixth in four consecutive seasons between 2019 and 2022, eighth-placed PBKS come into 2023 and will look to turn things around this time.
PBKS have a new vice-captain in the form of Jitesh Sharma but the point of concern will be the form of Jonny Bairstow.
Sikandar Raza, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone and Rishi Dhawan are the team’s go-to all-rounders, while the bowling attack will be led by Kagiso Rabada along with Arshdeep Singh, Nathan Ellis and Harshal Patel.