Rishabh Pant finally came good in the IPL 2020 final for Delhi Capitals against the Mumbai Indians at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. After Delhi Capitals were reduced to 22/3 thanks to a splendid bowling performance from Trent Boult and Jayant Yadav, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant showed their class and revived the Delhi Capitals innings. Shreyas Iyer steadied some calm nerves in the Delhi Capitals camp when he hit two boundaries in the fifth over bowled by Trent Boult. However, for the first time in a long time, Rishabh Pant gave Shreyas Iyer good company as he was middling the ball well and timing the gap. Although he did look for some slogs to get out of trouble, Pant looked reassured and slowly, Delhi Capitals rebuilt the innings.
In the 10th over bowled by Krunal Pandya, Rishabh Pant showed his class as he blasted two massive sixes, one over long on and the other over deep midwicket as he and Shreyas Iyer built a partnership in excess of 60. Pant and Iyer were looking good for fifties as Mumbai Indians searched for another wicket. However, Pant and Iyer took Delhi Capitals past 100 and Pant notched up his fifty with a lap-scoop of Nathan Coulter-Nile in the 15th over. However, in the quest for too much aggression, Pant fell for 56 to Nathan Coulter-Nile as he top-edged the pull to Hardik Pandya.
Elite list
When Rishabh Pant reached his fifty, he became the second-youngest player after Manan Vohra to hit a fifty in an IPL final. Vohra had hit 67 during the IPL 2014 clash between Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab at the M Chinnaswamy stadium. At that time, Manan Vohra's age was 20 years and 318 days. Unfortunately, Kings XI Punjab lost the final in a thrilling manner.
Delhi Capitals would be aiming a big score and even skipper Shreyas Iyer has come to the party with an attacking fifty. However, it will not be easy for Delhi Capitals as Mumbai Indians have a power-packed batting line-up capable of taking the game away from the opposition.