[Watch] Rishabh Pant Unfurls Ganguly-Esque Cover Drive In Comeback IPL 2024 Game

Rishabh Pant scored 18 in his comeback game (BCCI)

Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant made his return to competitive cricket after a gap of 15 months through his team’s opening IPL 2024 match against Punjab Kings. 

Showing no comeback jitters, the elegant left-hander unpacked a couple of gorgeous drives, including one off former ‘Purple Cap’ winner Harshal Patel to make his intentions clear with the bat.

Pant ended up shaping 18 runs in all from 13 deliveries as Capitals charted 174-9 by the completion of their 20 overs.

Rishabh Pant crashes Patel with picturesque drive

Rishabh Pant, who received a king-size welcome from fans in Mullanpur, unfurled a textbook extra cover drive in the 13th over of the Delhi Capitals innings. The cricketer pierced the gap between mid-off and cover to bring up his second boundary of the game.

Unfortunately for Rishabh Pant, he was deceived by Harshal Patel a couple of deliveries later in the same over to make his way back to the sheds with a 13-ball 18 to his credit.

Shai Hope top-scored in the innings with 33 while openers David Warner (29) and Mitchell Marsh (20) both slapped rapid 20s at the top of the order. Axar Patel provided some impetus in the death with his 13-ball 21 while Abishek Porel blasted 32* off just 10 balls to take Capitals to 174-9.

The match marks the opening game for Delhi Capitals in the ongoing IPL 2024 season.

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