IPL 2019 | Next time I will try to finish games, says Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant has stated that he would like to finish games for his team, referring to his dismissal in the second last over in the eliminator match between Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The wicket-keeper batsman was awarded the Man of the Match for his aggressive 49 run innings.
In the Indian Premier League eliminator match on Wednesday, the Delhi Capitals had an uphill task ahead as they had to chase down Sunrisers Hyderabadâs 162 runs on a tricky surface. The Capitals were standing at 84/2 in the tenth over when Rishabh Pant came to bat and the equation had come down to 79 runs off 58 balls. But DC lost a set batsman in Prithvi Shaw in the very same over.
The other batsmen either failed to score along with the required rate or lost their wickets. The onus to take the side through was on Pant who delivered by blasting five sixes and two fours to score 49 off just 21 balls. However, the Capitals camp looked nervous as he was dismissed in the 19th over when just five runs were required. They eventually won but the youngster was disappointed to not finish unbeaten.
âIf you are set, you have to finish it for your team. Next time, I will try to finish it for my team as I got very close tonight,â Pant said at the post-match presentation ceremony, reported Cricbuzz.
Pant had blasted two sixes and fours each in the 18th over bowled by Basil Thampi and reckoned that such big overs are a must in the shortest format.
âI just try to be positive. In T20s, you have to have a big over. We practice everyday with the same set of bowlers and we see the ball and not the bowler. Today, I didn't try to hit it too hard and focused on timing,â explained the 21-year-old.
Prithvi Shaw did not have a single fifty to his name post his 99 run innings against Kolkata Knight Riders. Nevertheless, he scored 56 runs in 38 deliveries in Wednesdayâs game before getting dismissed by Khaleel Ahmedâs slower delivery. The Mumbai batsman credited the support staff for giving him a longer rope.
âAll this is dedicated to my team as they have backed me quite well. I wasn't scoring runs in the last few games. All thanks to support staff, players and coaches for believing in me and giving the opportunity as well,â the 19-year-old said.
âI was a bit nervous but my coaching staff helped me. I believed in myself to get my form back and went in there and played my natural game. These kind of games I am always nervous,â he added.
The Capitals will take on Chennai Super Kings in the second qualifier at the same venue tomorrow. The three-time champions had defeated the Shreyas Iyer-led side in both the encounters they have played against each other but Shaw vowed to give their best for the upcoming game.
âRishabh Pant batted beautifully. Whenever we needed him, he is always there for us. Not really planned (for CSK). We will have fun tonight and leave the rest when we get to practice next. It is a big game against Chennai and we are going to prepare hard,â he signed off.
