The Delhi Capitals’ chances to qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs weren’t easy anyway. But now they have been handed a massive blow. Their skipper, Rishabh Pant, has been handed a one-match ban due to a third slow over rate offense. Prior to their clash against the Rajasthan Royals on May 7, Pant had already been penalized twice.
Despite knowing that he’d be banned and fined Rs 30 lakh for a third offense, Pant failed to finish their 20 allotted overs in 1 hour and 30 minutes. He tried to appeal the decision but was rejected. Now, the Delhi Capitals are hanging by a thread. A single loss would mean that they are virtually out of IPL 2024.
Delhi Capitals lose Rishabh Pant, the captain, keeper, and batter
Their next match is against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 12, a team that is on a 4-match winning streak. They’ll go into that encounter without their designated skipper and highest run-scorer, Rishabh Pant. The Southpaw has scored 413 runs for them and has nearly 100 runs more than their next best batter, Tristian Stubbs. Their top order is settled with Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abhishek Porel firing on all cylinders, but without him, their middle order looks incredibly weak.
Pant has 14 dismissals to his name in IPL 2024 and is behind just KL Rahul (16). Despite his injury concerns, he has the most stumpings (3), and with MS Dhoni suffering from a muscle tear, he’s easily the best keeper in the competition.
His leadership skills and tactics have been great as well. He’s dealt with injuries to Mitchell Marsh, David Warner, Ishant Sharma, and Kuldeep Yadav extremely well and still kept them in the playoff hunt. His best bowler until last season, Anrich Nortje, wasn’t firing, and his replacements, Lizaad Williams and Jhye Richardson, were underwhelming but still powered through. Rishabh Pant’s captaincy will definitely be missed by the Delhi Capitals.
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Who’ll lead DC in Pant’s absence?
The Delhi Capitals will have two captaincy options in Rishabh Pant’s absence: David Warner and Axar Patel. When Pant was ruled out of the IPL 2023 season, it was the veteran Australian opener who helmed the leadership role, and Axar was his deputy. But that leadership setup may not work on May 12.
Warner hasn’t played a match since April 20 as he’s struggling with a thumb injury. Their other option could have been Mitchell Marsh, who’ll lead Australia in the T20 World Cup 2024, but he’s gone back home after suffering a hamstring injury.
That means, in all likelihood, it’ll be Axar Patel who’ll captain the Delhi Capitals in the RCB vs DC match. However, it’s still uncertain who’ll be named as the vice-captain for that clash.
