Rishabh Pant’s team, the Delhi Capitals, might be off to a rough start in IPL. But Pant himself? He’s doing just fine. In fact, he’s checking off all the things needed to earn a place on the India squad for the T20 World Cup.
In his consecutive fifties against CSK and KKR, Pant proved his strength in the field. Behind the stumps, he’s as reliable as ever. Last Saturday, at Wankhede Stadium, he spent ample time practicing, making sure to resolve as many balls as possible due to lost time. As DC’s cricket director, Sourav Ganguly claimed on the day before their game with Mumbai Indians that Pant appears in top form.
Ganguly says Pant will need some more time before he’s ready for T20 World Cup
“Just let the game unfold. He’s performing impressively. You’ve all witnessed it. His skills, both at batting and keeping, are holding up. His performance is exceptional, particularly in the recent two games. Give it another week, then I could respond to that question, if the selectors are considering him. But he is completely fit,” Ganguly remarked when asked about Pant’s readiness for the T20 World Cup squad.
Fans shouldn’t boo Pandya, it’s not his fault’
Hardik Pandya, leading the Mumbai Indians, hasn’t had the smoothest start. To make matters worse, the fan’s disapproval heard at every game, even at Wankhede Stadium, hasn’t done him any favors.
Ganguly stood up for the 20-year-old all-around player on Saturday. He took Rohit Sharma’s captain spot at the season’s beginning. Ganguly tells fans not to boo him anymore.
“Booing Hardik Pandya isn’t right, in my opinion. The franchise chose him as captain. That’s just how sports go. You could be leading India, a state team, or your franchise. You’re a captain because they picked you,” Ganguly said.
“Clearly, Rohit Sharma is unparalleled. His performance, both for this team and India, is top-notch as a player and leader. And yet, it’s not Hardik’s responsibility that he’s become captain.”
IPL 2024- All eyes on Mayank as LSG eye hattrick
Lucknow: The 21-year-old gem, Mayank Yadav, is a vital piece for the Lucknow SuperGiants (LSG). With two wins already, they aim for a third against Gujarat Titans. Their match-up happens Sunday at Ekana International Stadium.
LSG commenced their IPL journey with a loss to the Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur. Still, they quickly reversed fortunes, securing victories in their following two matches against Punjab and RCB.
In their journey so far, the Titans, with Shubman Gill at the helm, have had two wins and two losses from four matches. A win against LSG would boost their standings. Key players, like the rocket-fast Mayank, have helped LSG start the league on a high note.
In the game against PBKS, it was Mayank who stepped up. He shook things up with his lightning-fast pitches. It turns out, he’s the quickest pitcher this season! He first threw a 155.8 km/h pitch against Punjab. Then he beat his own record, chucking one at an amazing 156.7 km/h against RCB.
Ravi Bishnoi’s performance in this season seems a bit costly. Simultaneously, Yash Thakur, the pacer, hasn’t left a significant impression yet.
Batsman Quinton de Kock and Nicholas Pooran are playing superbly. In the first game against the Rajasthan Royals, team leader KL Rahul did alright. However, he hasn’t hit a high score yet.
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Ayush Badoni must highlight his capabilities, as his batting skills have yet to shine. Similarly, batter Devdutt Padikkal has not fully demonstrated his prowess.
Sai Sudarshan, the main batsman for Gujarat Titans, has excelled and boosted the team score. Gujarat Titans’ Azmatullah Omarzai is exceptional too. He’s claimed two wickets when facing Mumbai Indians. However, Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed, the other two players from Afghanistan, struggled to show impact.
The home team at the Ekana stadium managed a score of 199 against Punjab. The ground condition seems good and would likely favor the batsmen, allowing them to notch up runs easily.