Riding on Rishabh Pant’s half century, Delhi Capitals posed 224/4 in 20 overs against Gujarat Titans in an IPL 2024 encounter at Feroz Shah Kotla.

New Delhi: Rishabh Pant made a strong statement for a spot at India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad with a blazing unbeaten 88 off just 43 balls against Gujarat Titans, leading Delhi Capitals to 224/4 in 20 overs on Wednesday at the Feroz Shah Kotla. During his stay at the crease, the Delhi Capitals skipper slammed five fours and eight sixes as he forged a 113-run stand in 68 balls with Axar Patel (66) and an unbeaten 67-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs (26 not out).

Pant’s knock came at a time when the selectors are scratching their heads for the wicketkeeper’s slot in the 15-member squad. The likes of Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals), Ishan Kishan (Mumbai Indians) and KL Rahul (Lucknow Super Giants) have all performed to their potential so far in PL 2024 to stake a claim for a place in the flight to USA and West Indies.

Having sent to bat first in a must-win game, Delhi Capitals didn’t had the best of the starts when they lost both the openers Jake Frazer-McGurk and Prithvi Shaw in the same over bowled by Sandeep Warrier. However, it was Pant and Axar who revived the sinking ship with their brutal hitting.