If fairy tales were real, Rishabh Pant’s return to cricket would have been a storybook comeback. But reality often surpasses fiction, especially regarding the resilience of individuals facing adversity. Rishabh Pant’s journey back to the cricket field is extraordinary. Just a couple of years ago, he found himself in a life-threatening situation, with a knee at a right angle, trapped inside a crumpled car, battling excruciating pain. However, Rishabh Pant’s Delhi Capitals lost the match by 4 wickets but his return on the field make the day for every cricket fans.

Emotional Return

Pant defied expectations despite the odds stacked against him and returned triumphantly to competitive cricket. His emotional admission before the match reflected the magnitude of his comeback, a testament to his unwavering spirit and determination.

See Also: IPL 2024: Punjab Kings beat Delhi Capitals by 4 wickets

Batting with Flair

As the skipper of Delhi Capitals, Pant’s return garnered immense anticipation from fans and pundits alike. Despite the emotional weight of the occasion, Pant approached the game with characteristic flair, aiming to entertain the crowd with his explosive batting display.

With every ball he faced, Pant exuded confidence and determination. His eagerness to take on the opposition bowlers was palpable as he showcased his repertoire of shots with panache. Pant scored a cautious 18 runs off 13 balls before being dismissed by Harshal Patel in the 13th over of the innings.

Stump Mic Moment

Pant channeled the legendary MS Dhoni with a lightning-fast stumping in a moment of brilliance behind the stumps. The anticipation among fans reached a crescendo as the third umpire reviewed the decision, ultimately confirming the dismissal of Jitesh Sharma.

Pant’s astute reading of the game and razor-sharp reflexes were fully displayed during this crucial moment. With the finesse of a seasoned wicketkeeper, he seized the opportunity presented by Sharma’s mistimed shot, executing the stumping with precision.

Significance of the Match

This match symbolized more than a return to competitive cricket for Pant. It marked a significant milestone in his journey—a testament to his resilience, skill, and unwavering determination. Amidst the anticipation and scrutiny surrounding his comeback, Pant delivered a stellar performance, reaffirming his status as one of cricket’s most exciting talents.

IPL 2024 season has kicked off with an unexpected setback for the Delhi Capitals as veteran bowler Ishant Sharma sustained an injury during their match. This news comes as a blow to the team, particularly considering their reliance on Sharma’s experience and skill in the pace department.

An Unfortunate Twist

During the match, Ishant Sharma twisted his ankle while delivering a ball, forcing him to leave the field immediately. Mitchell Marsh was called upon to complete the over, highlighting the abrupt nature of Sharma’s departure from the game.

See Also: WATCH: Explosive Abhishek Porel takes DC to 174/9 against PBKS

The Injury Incident

The injury occurred during Sharma’s second over when he twisted his right ankle while bowling to Prabhsimran Singh. Despite efforts from the physio to alleviate the pain, Sharma was visibly discomforted and had to be escorted off the field.

With Sharma sidelined, the Delhi Capitals had to rely on Pravin Dubey as his substitute fielder. The extent of Sharma’s injury remains uncertain, raising concerns about his availability for future matches.

Amidst the disappointment of Ishant Sharma’s injury, it’s essential to acknowledge his significant contribution to the match. Despite initial struggles with his line and length, Sharma showcased his brilliance by dismissing the dangerous Shikhar Dhawan with a well-executed delivery.

Match Overview

Earlier, DC kicked off their IPL 2024 campaign with a match against Punjab Kings, where they faced challenges in capitalizing on a promising start by Mitchell Marsh and David Warner. Despite a strong start, Delhi Capitals failed to fully capitalize on their batting innings, managing to score 174/9 in their allotted 20 overs.

As the Delhi Capitals navigate through the challenges posed by Ishant Sharma’s injury, they must regroup and adapt their strategies to compensate for his absence in the upcoming matches. The team’s depth and resilience will be tested as they strive to maintain their competitiveness in the IPL 2024 season.

Delhi Capitals kicked off their IPL 2024 campaign with a match against Punjab Kings, where they faced challenges in capitalizing on a promising start by Mitchell Marsh and David Warner. Despite a strong start, Delhi Capitals failed to fully capitalize on their batting innings, managing to score 174/9 in their allotted 20 overs.

Overview of Delhi Capitals’ Batting Performance

Mitchell Marsh and David Warner provided a solid start for Delhi Capitals, adding 39 runs in 3.2 overs before Marsh’s dismissal. While Shai Hope showcased resilience with his knock of 33 runs, contributions from other batters like Rishabh Pant, Ricky Bhui, and Tristan Stubbs were relatively modest.

See Also: Netizens troll DC team management for benching Prithvi Shaw against PBKS

Abhishek Porel’s Remarkable Performance

Abhishek Porel emerged as the standout performer for Delhi Capitals, playing a crucial role in bolstering the team’s total with his explosive innings, scoring 32 runs off just ten balls.

Highlights from Punjab Kings’ Bowling

Arshdeep and Harshal Patel were the critical bowlers for Punjab Kings, each claiming two wickets and contributing significantly to restricting Delhi Capitals’ scoring rate.

Despite a promising start by Mitchell Marsh and David Warner, Delhi Capitals struggled to capitalize on their batting innings, ultimately setting a target of 174/9 against Punjab Kings. Abhishek Porel’s remarkable performance in the latter stages of the innings provided some momentum but wasn’t enough to secure a commanding total.

Delhi Capitals are set to lock their horns against Punjab Kings in the second match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on March 23, Saturday. It will be the first match of double-header day on Saturday. Punjab Kings have won the toss and have opted to field

Rishabh Pant’s Much-Awaited Comeback

Rishabh Pant, the dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman, is set to return to professional cricket after a challenging rehabilitation following a road accident in December 2022. His anticipated comeback match in IPL-17 between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals has cricket enthusiasts excitedly buzzing.

See Also: Hopefully, I don’t have to face Starc: Cummins ahead of match between KKR and SRH

Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings had lacklustre performances in the previous IPL season, standing ninth and eighth, respectively. The teams are eager to put their past struggles behind them and start afresh in the upcoming season.

Team Overview: Delhi Capitals

Under the guidance of coach Ricky Ponting, Delhi Capitals have been undergoing rigorous training sessions to refine their skills and strategy. With a strong lineup of players, including Rishabh Pant, the team is poised to make a strong comeback in the upcoming season.

Team Overview: Punjab Kings

Led by captain Shikhar Dhawan, Punjab Kings are determined to showcase their potential this season. Despite facing challenges, the team boasts talented players like Jitesh Sharma and Jonny Bairstow and a formidable bowling lineup comprising Rabada, Arshdeep, and Harshal Patel.

IPL 2024: PBKS vs DC, Match 2: Who said what at the toss?

Pant: We would have batted first. The wicket looks a little on the slower side. Really emotional time for me. Just want to enjoy the moment. Not thinking much. I think not worried about last season. Really exciting times. We have been preparing well. Four overseas batters for us. Hope, Marsh, Warner, Stubbs.

Shikhar Dhawan: We are gonna field first. It is a new pitch. We will look to come up with new strategies. We have made some changes. We are used to this ground now. We had a practice match. We will look for some luck on this venue. Our four foreign players are Bairstow, Livingstone, Curran and Rabada.

Playing XIs

Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan(c), Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma(w), Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Shashank Singh

Punjab Kings Subs: Rilee Rossouw, Prabhsimran Singh, Tanay Thyagarajan, Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Vidhwath Kaverappa

Delhi Capitals (Playing XI): David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Shai Hope, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Ricky Bhui, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Sumit Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Ishant Sharma

Delhi Capitals Subs: Abishek Porel, Mukesh Kumar, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Vicky Ostwal, Praveen Dubey

59th Match, IPL: Punjab Kings 167 for 7 (Prabhsimran 103, Ishant 2-27) beat Delhi Capitals 136 for 8 (Warner 54, Harpreet 4-30, Chahar 2-16) by 31 runs

An extraordinary century from Prabhsimran Singh took Delhi Capitals out of IPL 2023 and pushed Punjab Kings up to 6th spot, well reachable for a season finisher spot

With only one previous fifty-plus score in this tournament, the Punjab opener found a way to not only survive but also keep scoring quick runs in a way that no one else could. It seemed like a transitioning innings.

How it started

It is simple to hit through the line and continue steadily scoring runs when the pitch has pace. At the point when it isn’t there, it’s difficult to try and get the ball off the square. So you get your runs in fits and sprays.

Lords languished 22 balls over no runs in the powerplay, yet hit seven others for 32 runs (5×4 and 2×6).

Prabhsimran’s business was the cause of a lot of this work. His job on the team is to make the most of the space available on the field. Also, he performed commendably, switch-hitting twirl for sixes and moving around all around the batting wrinkle, just to lose the bowlers their arrangements.

However, his position was recast. He went from being the person who was unable to value his wicket to the person who was simply unable to leave. He then settled down. acclimatized to the pitch. He was also figuring out how to keep his shape and completely control his shots by about the 12th over.

Prabhsimran was 53 off 44. Then, at that point, he was dropped on 68. He was then 102 off 61.

49 out of 17 balls. On a pitch where none of his colleagues crossed 20, and simply two others figured out how to score better compared to run-a-ball. Even though he had a little assistance, this was a spectacular display of perseverance.

Take pace off, hit a hard length, and most importantly, aim for the stumps when the ball isn’t coming onto the bat. Keep the batter from letting go of his arms.

Prabhsimran however was essentially welcome to free his arms. ESPNcricinfo’s data indicate that the majority of the balls he faced (33 of them) were either wide outside off stump or outside off stump, which is worse. Additionally, he outscored them by 60 runs, including seven fours and three sixes.

Capitals ought to have had better sense than that. A mishit to a ball that came in line with this body was the cause of the opportunity they created, Rilee Roussouw’s missed catch. They were ignorant. They were also punished.

How it ended

The chase started off well for the Capitals. They went out with the knowledge that 168 was a difficult target and that the powerplay would require them to eliminate a significant portion of it. David Warner assisted them with achieving that objective, taking them to 65 for 0 of every six overs. He breezed to a fifty off of 23 balls, scoring 42 runs with boundaries. Yet, truth be told, Capitals just confronted six bundles of twist in that period.

On a pitch where the ball was both stopping on the batters and turning quite a bit, it made no sense why Kings would have allowed any of that to happen.

In the end, Shikhar Dhawan went to turn and the game changed.

Cornered by Harpreet Brar (4 for 30) and Rahul Chahar (2 for 16), Capitals lost three wickets for two runs between the 10th and the eleventh overs. The forecaster at ESPNcricinfo quantified this shift in momentum: Kings went from a mere 20% chance of winning this game to 78% favorites in just eight balls.

To reach the total they allowed one batter to reach at the end, the Capitals needed seven players to combine. A century could not be given away under these conditions.

In match 59 of the IPL 2023, Punjab Kings made a respectable comeback with the bat after suffering two defeats in a row thanks to a century from Prabhsimran Singh

Subsequent to being approached to bat first by Delhi Capitals, Shikhar Dhawan’s group haggled with a precarious Arun Jaitley Arena surface solidly to the point of putting 167 sudden spikes in demand for the scoreboard.

Dhawan became Ishant Sharma’s first victim of the night in only the second delivery of the second over, so the start did not go according to plan. In his second over, the veteran pacer destroyed the stumps of Liam Livingstone, as Punjab’s score read 38/2 after five overs.

Least to say, twitter fans were super excited! Here’s some of the supportive comments!

DC vs PBKS Match Preview

On Saturday evening at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, the Delhi Capitals will face the Punjab Kings in match 59 of the 2023 Indian Premier League. The Delhi Capitals lost their most recent game to the Chennai Super Kings and currently sit at the bottom of the table with eight points. With 10 points from 11 games, Punjab Kings are two places ahead. The Delhi Capitals may have lost their most recent match, but they had been in excellent form prior to that. We anticipate that they will be competitive against the Punjab Kings in this game. Punjab Kings started the tournament strongly but have struggled to get results in the last two games. To win this match, they will need to return to their best form.

DC vs PBKS Match Details

Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings – 59th Match

Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium – New Delhi

Date & Time: 13th May 2023 at 07:30 PM IST 

Live Streaming: Jio Cinema

DC vs PBKS Venue Stats

DC vs PBKS Pitch Report

The ball comes onto the bat at a good pace on this good batting wicket in Delhi. In this game, a par score will be around 200.

DC vs PBKS Weather Report

Saturday evening is expected to be extremely hot in Delhi. There will be no rain, and the humidity will be low.

DC vs PBKS Last Five Matches

DC vs PBKS Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

DC vs PBKS Probable Playing XIs:

Delhi Capitals Probable Playing XIs

David Warner (c), Phil Salt (wk), Mitchell Marsh, Manish Pandey, Rilee Rossouw, Ripal Patel, Axar Patel, Aman Hakim Khan, Lalit Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma

Punjab Kings Probable Playing XIs

Prabhsimran Singh, Shikhar Dhawan (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, Sam Curran, Rishi Dhawan, M Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh

Topmost Picks for DC vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – Delhi Capitals

• Phil Salt – The right-handed keeper-batter has hit over 150 runs from his last four innings in the tournament. He is an attacking player from ball one in this format.
• Axar Patel – The all-rounder has been very effective with both bat and ball this season. He hit 21 runs and took 2-27 in the last match.

Top Picks – Punjab Kings

• Shikhar Dhawan – The left-handed batter hit nine fours and one six against Kolkata Knight Riders and has been batting in a more attacking manner this season.
• Nathan Ellis – The Australian bowler has found his chances limited for Punjab Kings this season but whenever he has been called upon he has been very accurate and picked up key wickets.

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for DC vs PBKS Dream11 Team:

Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh(C), Axar Patel, Liam Livingstone(VC), Sam Curran, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Arshdeep Singh

Suggested Playing XI N0.2 for DC vs PBKS Dream11 Team:

Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan(VC), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Axar Patel(C), Rilee Rossouw, Sam Curran, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Arshdeep Singh

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Mitchell Marsh, Axar Patel

Vice-captain – Liam Livingstone, Shikhar Dhawan

Wicketkeeper – Phil Salt

DC vs PBKS Probable Winners:

Time is running out for both of these teams to put together a winning streak that will help them climb the table, and neither team will rest their top players in this game. With Liam Livingstone and Shikhar Dhawan both in good form, we believe Punjab Kings will be able to score big or chase down any target set Considering the team combination, Punjab Kings is expected to win this match.

After giving themselves a small glimmer of hope, Delhi Capitals are likely out of contention, although they remain in with a chance mathematically. The season has been a challenge for them, but they do have the balance, and with Rishabh Pant likely to come back next season, the side does have a lot of potential coming up.

The Punjab Kings, after losing to the Knight Riders have very little breathing space. They are chasing after their first playoff spot in nine years, and with how other teams are going it looks like their wait will only be longer, unless Dhawan and co pull something special.

DC vs PBKS Match Details

Date: May 13th 2023

Time:  7:30 PM IST

Venue: Delhi

DC vs PBKS Weather Report

A warm evening is expected at Delhi

DC vs PBKS Pitch Report

The pitch is likely to take some turn but with small boundaries batting first could remain a better option.

DC vs PBKS Head-to-Head

DC vs PBKS Predicted Playing XII

PBKS Playing XI

Shikhar Dhawan, Prabhsimran Singh, Matthew Short, Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingston, Shah Rukh Khan, Sam Curran, Rishi Dhawan, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Sharma

DC Playing XI

David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Manish Pandey, Mitchell Marsh, Phil Salt, Axar Patel, Lalit Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma

DC vs PBKS Key Players

Liam Livingstone

Livingstone is back, but is off to a slow start. His first game after an injury gap has not gone well, but if he does manage to find his range Punjab will be very pleased, and will look a lot stronger in the middle.

Mitchell Marsh

Mitchell Marsh single-handedly fought his way to keep DC in the game against the Sunrisers with both bat and ball. He, along with Axar Patel have shouldered the all-round duties well, and with the tournament heading into a do or die stage for them, Marsh will have to repeat his heroics a few more times.

PBKS’s Top Five Batters This Season

DC’s Top Five Batters Last Season

PBKS’s Top Five Bowlers Last Season

DC’s Top Five Bowlers Last Season

DC vs PBKS Match Tips

The Punjab Kings remain favorites with Delhi’s form blowing hot and cold this season.

Match Prediction: Punjab Kings Win the Match

Preview

DC vs PBKS: The upcoming game hangs in the balance with some positive cases in the Delhi Capitals camp. Both players and support staff have members in trouble but for now the game is stated to go ahead. Last game, Delhi Capitals lost after looking strong in the chase until a middle-overs slow down.

They go up against the Punjab Kings who are an explosive side struggling to bat through. In multiple cases this season, PBKS have gone too hard up front only to find themselves struggling to bat the 20 overs. They are ending with lower totals then expected and will probably look at their approach as someone looks to bat a little deeper into the innings.

Match Details

Match: DC vs PBKS

Date: 20th April 2022

Time: 7:30 IST

Venue: MCA Stadium, Pune

Weather Report

Dry and warm weather is expected during the DC vs PBKS game.

Pitch Report

The surface was a little slow during the CSK vs GT game, but small boundaries make it a touch easier for batters. Chasing is still a better option despite the slowness in the pitch.

DC vs PBKS Predicted Playing XI

DC Playing XI

David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), Lalit Yadav, Rovman Powell, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Mustafizur Rahman

PBKS Playing XI

Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal (capt), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, Shahrukh Khan, Odean Smith, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Vaibhav Arora, Arshdeep Singh

Team News

• Mayank Agarwal is slated to come back after missing the previous game with an injury.

• Mitchell Marsh is unavailable for the upcoming game and will likely be replaced by Anrich Nortje as Delhi look to strengthen their bowling attack.

Key Players

Axar Patel

Axar Patel continues to be a silent star in the Delhi Capitals line-up. He is maintaining a smooth line and length to choke batters and remains economical even when the other bowlers are taken for runs. Along with his economy, Axar Patel is doing a handy job in picking up some key wickets in the opposing line-up.

See Also: RR vs KKR highlights: RR wins by 7 runs in a nerve wrecking match – Cricket Winner

Arshdeep Singh

Arshdeep Singh has the lowest economy in the death overs and is using his left-arm angle well to find the yorker outside the off-stump. He is taking wickets as well in the death but a lack of runs from the batters has made his job tougher. Despite PBKS struggling with the bat, Arshdeep Singh has stood out with the ball in an attempt to save the Punja.

DC vs PBKS Match Tips

DC are struggling with a lack of personnel and niggles in the side. They may have limited options to choose from and if their bowling is weakened, the Capitals will have a tough time containing Punjab’s batting line-up.

Match Prediction: PBKS will win the match.