Cricket

Rishabh Pant Joins Elite Club, Becomes Third Youngest to Reach 3000 IPL RunsDelhi Capitals' skipper Rishabh Pant has etched his name in Indian Premier League (IPL) history by becoming the third youngest player to reach the milestone of 3000 runs in the tournament. Pant's scintillating knock of 41 off 24 balls against Lucknow Super Giants not only guided his team to victory but also marked a significant personal achievement.Pant achieved this remarkable feat on the last delivery of the 12th over, smashing Marcus Stoinis for a boundary. Displaying his trademark versatility, Pant showcased an array of shots, including his trademark scoops over third man and fine leg.At 26 years and 191 days, Pant joins an elite club of young achievers, with only Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli ahead of him in reaching the 3000-run milestone. Impressively, Pant boasts the third-highest strike rate (148.4) among the top 25 batters to cross the 3000-run mark, trailing only AB De Villiers (151.68) and Chris Gayle (148.96).Pant's journey to 3000 IPL runs has been a remarkable one. He made his IPL debut in 2016 for the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) and has since established himself as one of the most destructive batters in the tournament. Known for his aggressive style of play and fearless approach, Pant has consistently delivered match-winning performances for his team.In addition to his 3000 runs, Pant has also scored 16 half-centuries and two centuries in the IPL. He has also been a key contributor to Delhi Capitals' success in recent seasons, leading the team to the final in 2020 and the playoffs in 2021.Pant's achievement is a testament to his talent, hard work, and dedication. He has emerged as one of the most exciting young players in world cricket and is poised for even greater success in the years to come.

Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Rishabh Pant narrowly escaped a one-match ban in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season after his team avoided a third over-rate infringement during their victory over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Friday.Pant had previously been fined twice for slow over rates, and a third offense would have resulted in an automatic suspension. However, DC managed to make up for lost time in the final overs of their match against LSG, ensuring that Pant remained eligible to play.According to IPL regulations, teams that fall behind the over rate are penalized and restricted to fielding only four players outside the inner circle instead of the usual five. For the first offense, the captain is fined Rs 12 lakh, while the second offense doubles the fine to Rs 24 lakh and imposes a Rs 6 lakh or 25% match fee penalty on each player in the playing XI. A third offense incurs a Rs 30 lakh fine and a one-match ban for the captain.Pant's impressive performance in DC's victory over LSG, in which he scored a quickfire 41, helped his team secure their second win of the campaign. Jake Fraser-McGurk also made a significant contribution on his debut, smashing 55 off 35 balls.With this victory, DC moved up to ninth place in the 10-team standings, while Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) dropped to the bottom. Pant and his team will next face the Gujarat Titans in an away match.

Ayush Badoni, the young Lucknow Super Giants batter, has expressed gratitude towards skipper KL Rahul and coach Justin Langer for their unwavering support during his initial struggles in the ongoing IPL season. Badoni's impressive performance against the Delhi Capitals, despite the team's loss, was a testament to the faith placed in him.Badoni's unbeaten 55 off 35 balls played a crucial role in resurrecting LSG's innings, helping them post a competitive 167 for 7. However, the Delhi Capitals chased down the target with ease in 18.1 overs."The start of the season was not good, but I was doing well at the nets," Badoni said. "I am thankful to KL Rahul and Justin Langer for backing me and giving me a chance."Badoni's strategy was to take the game deep and then attack, aiming to score over 150 runs. He acknowledged that the team fell short by about 20 runs.The 24-year-old batter emphasized the positive impact of his strong bond with Rahul and Langer. "I spoke a lot to KL Rahul, and he backs me every time," Badoni said. "I also share a good bonding with Justin. I went to Australia last year, and there also, he made me learn a few things and improved my game."Badoni credited Delhi Capitals spinner Kuldeep Yadav for his match-winning performance. "Kuldeep was bowling well. He broke our momentum," he said.Meanwhile, DC assistant coach Pravin Amre praised Jake Fraser-McGurk's debut IPL knock, which helped the team chase down the target effortlessly. "It was a tremendous innings by Jack because he was batting very well at the nets," Amre said. "We have got that he has that X-factor, the ability to strike the sixes."Amre also acknowledged Prithvi Shaw's contribution in providing a solid start. "As an opener, he has got a role to play, winning the powerplay is also critical," Amre said.The assistant coach lauded the performance of spinners Kuldeep and Axar Patel, who dominated the crucial middle overs. "We are forgetting Kuldeep's contribution. He bowled a dream ball to dismiss Nicholas Pooran," Amre said. "Axar also bowled well in the middle overs, giving away just 25 runs off his 4 overs."

Rishabh Pant's audacious reverse scoop off Marcus Stoinis stole the show in Delhi Capitals' emphatic six-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Friday.Pant's blistering knock of 41 runs off just 24 deliveries played a pivotal role in Delhi's successful chase of Lucknow's 167 for 7. However, it was his audacious stroke against Stoinis that left fans and commentators in awe.In the 12th over of Delhi's run-chase, Pant reversed his bat at the last moment to guide Stoinis' delivery over the third-man boundary. The shot, which showcased Pant's exceptional hand-eye coordination and improvisation, drew a wide smile from Delhi Capitals' director of cricket, Sourav Ganguly, who was watching the replays on the big screen.Pant's innings was a masterclass in aggressive batting. He smashed four boundaries and two sixes, including a towering hit over long-on off Avesh Khan. His dismissal by Ravi Bishnoi while attempting a big shot prevented him from reaching a half-century.Despite Pant's departure, Delhi cruised to victory with 11 balls to spare. Prithvi Shaw (34) and David Warner (26) provided a solid start, while Rovman Powell (35 not out) and Axar Patel (22 not out) finished the job with an unbeaten 53-run partnership.For Lucknow, Stoinis was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2 for 27. Avesh Khan and Bishnoi also chipped in with two wickets each.The victory was Delhi's second in three matches, while Lucknow suffered their first defeat of the season.

Delhi Capitals' Pant Engages in Heated Exchange with Umpire Over Wide CallEmotions flared high at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Friday as Delhi Capitals' skipper Rishabh Pant clashed with the on-field umpire during a tense encounter against the Lucknow Super Giants.The incident unfolded during the fourth over of the match, when Ishant Sharma bowled a delivery down the leg side to Devdutt Padikkal. The umpire promptly signaled it as a wide, sparking a heated exchange between Pant and the official.Pant's frustration was palpable as he engaged in a verbal altercation with the umpire, culminating in a review being called by the Delhi Capitals. However, confusion ensued as replays confirmed the delivery as a wide, but Pant continued to express his displeasure towards the umpire.Initially, commentators speculated that Pant may have been reluctant to take the review, but subsequent replays showed the wicketkeeper signaling for the referral. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar suggested that Pant's gesture may have been directed towards a fielder seeking advice on whether to review.However, clarity emerged from former cricketers Pommie Mbangwa and Deep Dasgupta, who revealed that Pant's frustration stemmed from the lack of utilization of the snickometer to determine if there was an outside edge. Pant's gestures towards the umpire, with gloves pressed against his ears, indicated his belief that there was a sound from the bat.Despite the controversy, it was clarified that the on-field umpire's decision was upheld, resulting in Delhi Capitals losing the review. The drama on the field mirrored the intensity of the competition, showcasing the unpredictable nature of cricket and keeping fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Delhi Capitals' Jake Fraser-McGurk Explodes on IPL Debut with Stunning FiftyIn a thrilling encounter at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, Delhi Capitals (DC) batter Jake Fraser-McGurk announced his arrival in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a blistering half-century on his debut against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).The young Australian, known for his explosive batting, wasted no time in making his presence felt. Facing LSG's left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya in the 13th over, Fraser-McGurk unleashed a barrage of sixes, hitting three consecutive deliveries over the boundary. He had earlier gotten off the mark with two sixes, showcasing his fearless approach.Fraser-McGurk's 55 off 35 balls, studded with two fours and five sixes, played a pivotal role in DC's six-wicket victory. Skipper Rishabh Pant also contributed with a quickfire 41 off 24 balls, including four fours and two sixes.Earlier, Ayush Badoni played a crucial innings for LSG, guiding his team to a respectable total of 167/7 with an unbeaten half-century. However, DC's left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav made a remarkable comeback after missing three matches due to injury. He claimed three wickets while conceding no boundaries in his four overs, including the key wickets of KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis, and Nicholas Pooran.Fraser-McGurk's impressive debut has not only boosted DC's batting lineup but also sent a strong message to the rest of the IPL teams. His ability to clear the boundary with ease and his fearless approach make him a dangerous batsman to watch out for.

Kuldeep Yadav's Three-Wicket Haul Powers Delhi Capitals to Victory Over Lucknow Super GiantsDelhi Capitals' wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav made a triumphant return to the side after a three-match absence due to a groin injury, claiming three crucial wickets in the IPL 2024 match against Lucknow Super Giants.Yadav's economical spell of 4-0-20-3 proved instrumental in restricting Lucknow to a modest total of 167/7. The left-arm spinner struck twice in his opening over, dismissing Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran on consecutive deliveries.Stoinis' dismissal came off a well-flighted delivery that induced a leading edge, while Pooran was bamboozled by a straighter delivery that uprooted his off stump. Yadav's third wicket came in the form of KL Rahul, who was caught off guard by a quicker delivery and departed for 39.Despite Yadav's early strikes, Lucknow fought back valiantly, led by Ayush Badoni's quick-fire unbeaten half-century. Badoni smashed 55 runs off just 35 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes, to help his team recover from a precarious position.However, Delhi's bowlers held their nerve in the face of Badoni's onslaught, with Shardul Thakur and Mustafizur Rahman claiming two wickets each. The Capitals' fielding was also sharp, with Rishabh Pant taking a stunning catch to dismiss Deepak Hooda.In the end, Delhi's disciplined bowling and fielding proved too much for Lucknow, who fell short of their target by 10 runs. The victory was a crucial one for the Capitals, who moved up to third place in the IPL standings.

Mumbai Indians (MI) have finally broken their losing streak in the ongoing IPL 2024 season, securing a much-needed 29-run victory over the Delhi Capitals. After three consecutive defeats, the win has instilled a sense of relief and renewed confidence within the team.Explosive batter Tim David, who played a crucial role in MI's triumph, expressed his thoughts on the team's recent struggles and the significance of their victory. "After three defeats, it's frustrating because everyone feels like they're trying their best," David said. "We sat down as a team and told ourselves it was time to challenge ourselves. We don't have any more chances here to keep playing below our best."David emphasized the importance of starting afresh and building momentum. "It's essential to start from here," he said. "We have the squad to push through the finals and will be up there at the end."MI's next challenge will be against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who have also faced their share of setbacks this season. However, David remains focused on his team's performance rather than their opponents. "To be honest, we're most focused on ourselves," he said. "We didn't play our best cricket in the first three matches, and as we gain momentum, this team can go on a real winning run."David also shared his thoughts on his former MI teammate Cameron Green, who was traded to the team ahead of the season. "I went to the same school as Cam, so it's obviously about bragging rights," David said. "You are playing against your mates, but they're the opposition."With the win over Delhi Capitals, MI has reignited their playoff hopes. David's positive outlook and the team's determination to improve suggest that they are ready to embark on a winning streak and challenge for the title.

LSG vs DC: Lucknow Super Giants Aim to Extend Dominance Against Delhi CapitalsThe Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 clash between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Delhi Capitals (DC) promises to be an intriguing encounter, with LSG holding a significant advantage heading into the match.LSG, currently third in the points table, boasts a well-rounded squad that has performed consistently throughout the tournament. Despite the potential absence of rookie pacer Mayank Yadav due to an abdominal niggle, the team has ample depth in its bowling department.In Yadav's stead, Yash Thakur, who impressed with a five-wicket haul against Gujarat Titans, is expected to lead the attack alongside Naveen-ul-Haq, Krunal Pandya, and Ravi Bishnoi.DC, on the other hand, will need to rely on their bowling unit to contain LSG's formidable batting lineup. The Capitals' bowlers have struggled for consistency this season, but they will be eager to prove their worth against a top-quality opposition.LSG's batting has been a major strength, with KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, and Deepak Hooda forming a formidable top order. The middle order, featuring Marcus Stoinis and Ayush Badoni, has also contributed significantly.DC's batting has been more inconsistent, but they possess match-winners in David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, and Rishabh Pant. However, the team's middle order has been a concern, and they will need their lower-order batsmen to step up.The match is expected to be a close contest, with both teams having their strengths and weaknesses. LSG will be the favorites, but DC will be determined to upset the odds and secure a crucial victory.