Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant surprised fans with an unexpected move during the Delhi Premier League’s (DPL) opener, as he stepped up to bowl the final over of the match. Known for his explosive batting and sharp wicketkeeping skills, Pant had never bowled in an international match before, making his decision to take the ball even more intriguing.
With the South Delhi Superstarz needing just one run to win against Purani Dilli 6, Pant’s over didn’t hold much significance in terms of the match outcome and the Superstarz clinched victory on the very first ball. However, the unusual sight of Pant with the ball in hand led to widespread attention among fans.
While some viewed it as a one-off moment given that his team, Purani Dilli 6, was already on the verge of losing, others couldn’t help but connect it to Gautam Gambhir’s recent appointment as Team India’s head coach.
Under the new head coach’s guidance, a host of Indian batters had to bowl at key moments during the white-ball series against Sri Lanka earlier this month.
The tour that kicked off Gambhir’s tenure as India’s head coach saw a surprising trend, with several prominent batters, including the likes of T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, Shubman Gill, and even ODI skipper Rohit Sharma, taking up the ball during the white-ball series.
