IPL 2024: Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel shine as DC hold nerve for thrilling win vs GT

Delhi held their nerves and survived onslaughts from David Miller and Rashid Khan as they successfully defended 224 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi for a crucial win on Wednesday.

Rishabh Pant’s ruthless 88 and Axar Patel’s all-round heroics along with young Rasikh Dhar’s fearless effort with the ball helped DC clinch 2 points and keep themselves relevant in the playoffs race as IPL 2024 heads towards the business end of the league stage.

David Miller’s power helped Gujarat get closer to the 225-run target in a chase that looked improbable as GT kept losing wickets at regular intervals in the end overs. Despite Miller’s exit, Rashid Khan and Sai Kishore struck some big blows to bring the equation down to 19 off the last over. Rashid went swinging against Mukesh Kumar, but the India pacer kept his composure and made sure Delhi went past the finish line.

With the win, Delhi jumped to the 6th spot on the points table with 8 points from 9 matches while Gujarat, in Shubman Gill’s 100th match, slipped to No. 7, pushing Mumbai down to No. 8. A lot of credit should go to Rishabh Pant, who smashed 88 off just 43 balls before coming out and marshalling his troops wonderfully well. Pant’s handling of his bowlers and the trust he paid in medium pacer Rasikh Salam proved to be the difference in the end.

Kuldeep Yadav was terrific, as usual, giving away just 28 runs and picking up 2 wickets in a match which witnessed over 420 runs. Axar Patel had a dream day on the field. The India all-rounder, who put his hand up for a spot in the T20 World Cup, hit his highest IPL total of 66, took a catch and got a wicket.

Gujarat’s chase got off to the worst possible start as Shubman Gill, playing his 100th IPL match, got out as early as the 2nd over for 6. Gujarat badly needed their skipper to fire after they conceded 10-15 runs extra in the end overs where leaked as many as 94 runs. After some ordinary calls on the field, Gill might have been looking for redemption with the bat, but the young opener was undone by a 147kph thunderbolt from Anrich Norje.

SAI SUDHARSAN MAKES A MARK

However, Sai Sudharsan and Wriddhiman Saha steadied the ship, helping Gujarat keep up with the asking rate as the visitors posted 60 runs in the powerplay. Sudharsan, who was brought in as Impact Player, showcased his versatality as he started going for the big ones from the word go. Sudharsan, who has always maintained that he plays according to the situation and the team’s needs, hit Anrich Nortje for a six in the very first delivery he faced and kept charging ahead. Veteran wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha tired his best to keep the scoring rate going, piercing the field and using his touch game to perfection.

Delhi also helped Gujarat’s cause on the field as Axar Patel dropped Sai Sudharsan for 17 in Rasikh Salam’s first over of the contest.

It was the two Delhi spinners who put the brakes on the scoring rate as Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav flaunted their class to not concede as many boundaries on a pitch that was a nightmare for bowlers. Sai Sudharsan made sure the scoreboard was moving as he hit a couple of boundaries against Axar Patel in the 9th over afer one against a miserly Kuldeep in the previous over. However, the momentum was back in Delhi’s favour when Kuldeep picked up the wicket of Wriddhiman Saha in the 10th over. Saha made 39 off 25 balls. It was Axar who made amends for the previous drop catch with a sharp effort at covers.

Gujarat were dealt another blow as they lost big-hitter Azmatullah Omarzai for 1 in the very next over with Axar doing the job with the ball this time.

Sai Sudharsan, meanwhile, got to his fifty in just 29 balls in a fine show of big-hitting. He was joined by David Miller at No. 6.

RISHABH PANT SILENCES CRITICS
Earlier in the day, Rishabh Pant proved his critics wrong with a sensational show of big-hitting, smashing 8 sixes and 5 boundaries for his 43-ball 88. Pant and Axar Patel came up with a game-defining 113-run partnership after 44 fo 3 inside the powerplay after Gujarat’s Sandeep Warrier picked all 3 wickets in the powerplay.

Jake Fraser-McGurk got Delhi off to a sensational start after Shubman Gill won the toss and opted to bowl. However,