Pant’s blistering unbeaten knock of 88 steered DC to a nail-biting four-run victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL clash on Wednesday, bolstering his chances for selection in India’s T20 World Cup squad.
Despite a shaky start at 44-3, Pant’s dynamic partnership with Axar Patel, who contributed a crucial 66, propelled DC to a formidable total of 224-4 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
GT fought back with David Miller’s explosive 55 and Rashid Khan’s late blitz, but fell short at 220-8. Mukesh Kumar’s composed final over ensured Delhi’s fourth win in nine matches, keeping their playoff aspirations alive in the T20 tournament.
The DC skipper cited Salam’s skill set and composure under pressure as critical factors in his selection for the crucial over. By entrusting Salam with a pivotal moment in the game, Pant showcased his astute captaincy and belief in the squad’s depth, ultimately contributing to DC’s triumph.
“(On choosing Rasikh for 19th over) Nortje was having a tough time. T20 is a funny game, after 14-15 overs the ball was coming on nicely. So we wanted to trust Rasikh, always trust someone who is bowling well in a game. I think it is about instincts as a captain, it will come off sometimes. Happy it worked today,” Pant, who was named player of the match, said at the post-match presentation.
“Surely at 43/3, we wanted to just keep going and target their main spinners. If we get something, we will take it on and keep rotating the strike. Everyday that I’m in the middle, I feel better. Every hour on the field matters, I love being on the field. I try to give it my 100% and it takes some time sometimes. I think the first six in the match gives me confidence in the game. The more time I spend in the centre, the better I feel,” Pant added.
