News Sports Cricket IPL 2021: Will take it match by match, says Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant ahead of SRH game

IPL 2021: Will take it match by match, says Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant ahead of SRH game

Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant said their performance in the first half of the event will count for something but they will.

 Rishabh Pant Image Source : IPLT20.COMFile photo of Rishabh Pant.

The Delhi Capitals will be taking inspiration from their brilliant performance in the first half of IPL 2021 season when they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in their first match of the UAE leg on Wednesday.

Delhi Capitals had registered six wins in eight matches before the first part of the season was halted in May due to Covid-19 pandemic, and will be looking to continue with the momentum despite the big break between the two legs.

Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant said their performance in the first half of the event will count for something but they will, however, take it one match at a time in the second leg.

"Our performance in the first half of the tournament will certainly count for us as we have started well in the tournament. However, we are going to take one match at a time, focus on our processes and let's see how it goes. My biggest learning from MS Dhoni is that one should keep focussing on the process and the results will follow. This is one of the biggest mantras which I have been following for a long time," said the wicketkeeper-batsman.

Delhi Capitals' head coach Ricky Ponting added that his players have prepared very well and he's confident about his team getting the job done against SRH,

"The IPL is such an even tournament that anyone on any given day can beat any team. We've got great respect for Sunrisers Hyderabad. They have got world-class players in David Warner, Kane Williamson and Rashid Khan, who is probably their key player. They always try and keep the game really close and really tight. But having said that, we have prepared really well and have done everything we can for the game. I am pretty confident that our boys can get the job done tomorrow."

When asked about what he has learned about captaincy after taking over the reins this season, Pant said, "I have learned from Ricky that a captain needs to treat everyone equally in the team. If you respect each and everyone in the team, then the entire team gives everything they have for you and they also stand by you in every situation. I try and keep the environment light. Anyone in the team can discuss anything with me or Ricky. We have a good combination of youth and experience in our team."

Ponting added that Pant has matured tremendously in the last couple of IPL seasons, "Rishabh's level of maturity in the last couple of seasons has just gone through the roof. When I first joined the Delhi Capitals camp, Rishabh was just starting to burst onto the scene. I made a pretty big call during the Australian summer last year when Rishabh finally made his way back to the Test team that we are going to see the unearthing of someone that could be a star Test match player for India for a long time. And what he has done since then on the international stage has been nothing short of sensational and I could see that coming. He's done a terrific job as captain of Delhi Capitals so far as well."

Delhi Capitals are currently placed second in the IPL table behind Chennai Super Kings on Net Run Rate as both have 12 points from eight games. SRH are at the bottom with two points from seven matches.

Live updates : IPL 2021 PBKS vs RR, LIVE Cricket Score: Rahul's Punjab Kings take on Samson's Rajasthan Royals; Follow Live

  • 10:32 PM (IST) Posted by Aratrick Mondal

    Rahul, Mayank give Punjab a brisk start

    Benefitting from the three sives he has been granted inside the powerplay, Punjab Kings captain KL Rahul raced to 24-ball 36 laced with two boundaries and as many sixes. Mayank joined the party smashing a hat-trick of sixes against Kartik Tyagi to score 42 off 31 as the Punjab openers amassed an 81-run opening stand. 

  • 9:25 PM (IST) Posted by Aratrick Mondal

    Rajasthan finished with 185

    Yashasvi Jaiswal's 49 off 36 deliveries laid the foundation before Manipal Lomror hit a 17-ball 43 to help Royals post an intimidating 185 on the board. Debutant Ewin Lewis also chipped in with 36 at the start and Liam Livingstone contributed with a short-lived 25-run cameo featuring 2 fours and a six. On the bowling front, Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the unit with five wickets. Mohammed Shami also recorded impressive bowling figures of 3/21 while Ishan Porel and Harpreet Brar picked a wicket each. 

  • 8:57 PM (IST) Posted by Aratrick Mondal

    Lomror on fire!

    Playing his first IPL game since October 2020, Lomror fired four sixes and two boundaries to score an unbeaten 42 off 15 which included a 26-run over off Deepak Hooda. 

  • 8:54 PM (IST) Posted by Aratrick Mondal

    Yashasvi narrowly misses out on fifty

    While wickets kept falling at regular intervals on the other end of the crease, Yashasvi kept the scoreboard ticking for the Royals, lacing six boundaries and two sixes to score 49 off 35. However, the youngster narrowly missed out on his much-deserved half-century. Jaiswal looked to nudge the ball to mid-wicket for a single to complete his half-century, but ball took the leading edge and Mayank completed his second catch of the evening. 

  • 8:39 PM (IST) Posted by Aratrick Mondal

    Fabian Allen takes a stunner to dismiss Liam Livingstone

    Allen dived to his right to take a stunner at deep mid-wicket. The Jaiswal-Livingstone stand has finally been broken as Arshdeep takes his second wicket. Rajasthan 118/3.

  • 8:04 PM (IST) Posted by Aratrick Mondal

    Arshdeep gets the breakthrough

    A slower leg-cutter from Arshdeep ended Lewis's bright debut as he mistimed his shot. Mayank Agarwal dived low to complete the catch. Lewis departed for 36 off 21

  • 8:00 PM (IST) Posted by Aratrick Mondal

    Yashasvi, Lewis make bright start for the Royals

    Yashasvi Jaiswal started off the innings on a positive note scoring two boundaries against Mohammed Shami in the first over before his openeing partner Evin Lewis joined tjhe party with a six over long-on against debutant Ishan Porel. Lewis continued to fire against the young India pacer, smashing 16 runs with four consecutive boundaries before taking on Deepak Hooda for two more. The pair stitched a 50-run opening stand in 33 balls to provide Royals a strong start

  • 7:09 PM (IST) Posted by Aratrick Mondal

    Playing XI for the two teams...

    Punjab Kings (Playing XI): KL Rahul(w/c), Mayank Agarwal, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Fabian Allen, Ishan Porel, Adil Rashid, Harpreet Brar, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh

    Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Evin Lewis, Sanju Samson(w/c), Liam Livingstone, Mahipal Lomror, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Chris Morris, Mustafizur Rahman, Chetan Sakariya, Kartik Tyagi

  • 7:05 PM (IST) Posted by Aratrick Mondal

    CAPTAIN'S SPEAK

    Sanju Samson: We are good are chasing and setting totals, so we were happy to do both. We have really great talent and characters in our team. It is a very positive atmosphere. Sangakkara brings in the experience, he knows what to communicate at what point. He just wanted us to relax. Lewis, Livingstone, Morris and Mustafizur are our foreigners.

    KL Rahul: We'll bowl first. It's a no brainer, a fresh wicket with grass on. We don't know how it will play and I prefer chasing. I was just telling a few people in the dressing room that it just felt like yesterday that we were playing IPL 2020. We have a lot that we've learnt from last year. We are all professionals and we have tried hard in the heat to prefer ourselves. Pooran, Markram, Rashid and Allen are our overseas players. Unfortunately, Chris Gayle misses out and Aiden has been in good form coming into our setup from Sri Lanka.

  • 7:02 PM (IST) Posted by Aratrick Mondal

    TOSS UPDATE

    Punjab Kings win toss, opt to bowl against Rajasthan Royals in DubaI

  • 6:48 PM (IST) Posted by Aratrick Mondal

    No Chris Gayle in XI?

    Markram and Rashid are playing for Punjab today while Chris Jordan is expected to the third overseas player in the XI. This means one between Nicholas Pooran and birthday boy Gayle will be the fourth foreigner. 

  • 6:41 PM (IST) Posted by Aratrick Mondal

    4 debutants in the game

    Evin Lewis has been handed his debut cap for Rajasthan Royals. He will make his debut alongside Ishan Porel, Aiden Markram and Adil Rashid who have been handed their debut caps for Punjab Kings.

  • 6:05 PM (IST) Posted by Aratrick Mondal

    Less than an hour to go before the toss...Here is a bit of Match Preview

    Liam Livingstone and Evin Lewis's explosive batting will meet its match in Chris Gayle's power and KL Rahul's finesse when Rajasthan Royals lock horns with Punjab Kings to improve upon their mid-table position in the Indian Premier League here on Tuesday.

    The two IPL teams have been perennial under-achievers in the league and would be desperate to change their fortunes after disappointing one and all with their underwhelming performances over the past few seasons. More so for Punjab Kings, the only team that has lacked any kind of stability over the 14 seasons of IPL with captains and coaches being changed like musical chairs.

  • 6:00 PM (IST) Posted by Ameya Barve

    Gayle-storm awaits on 42nd birthday?

    'Universe Boss' Chris Gayle is celebrating his 42nd birthday today. The Punjab Kings (PBKS) batting mainstay is known as a T20 phenom, scoring 14261 runs in the format -- the most ever by any cricketer -- at an average of 36.94 and a strike rate of 145.87. 

     

  • 5:57 PM (IST) Posted by Aratrick Mondal

    Punjab, Rajasthan aim for perfect start in UAE leg

    Rajasthan presently stand sixth in the points table with six points from three wins, similar to that of Punjab Kings, sho stand seventh, separated only by a superior net run rate. 

  • 5:32 PM (IST) Posted by Aratrick Mondal

    Head-to-head stats

    Rajasthan Royals have won 12 of their 22 meetings in T20 cricket while Punjab Kings won 10 matches in the rivalry.