Rishabh Pant surprised fans during the opening match of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2024 by showcasing his leg-spin bowling skills for Purani Dilli 6. The match, held on Saturday (August 17) against South Delhi Superstarz, marked Pant’s unexpected foray into bowling, a role he has never taken on in international cricket or the Indian Premier League (IPL).
A bold move from Rishabh Pant in the final over
In a thrilling turn of events, Pant stepped up to bowl the final over of the match with South Delhi Superstarz needing just one run to secure victory. His debut as a bowler ended almost immediately, as the game concluded with his very first delivery, resulting in a loss for Purani Dilli 6. Despite his primary role as a wicketkeeper-batter, Pant’s decision to bowl added an exciting twist to the game.
Here’s the video:
Rishabh Pant Bowling surprises everyone by rolling his arm over in the Delhi Premier League! His first delivery? A cheeky full toss! 🎯🔥 #Cricket #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/FxqdkSDOWG
— Sohil Jain (@sohiljain897) August 18, 2024
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Pant’s performanceÂ
Pant had a decent outing with the bat earlier in the match, scoring 35 runs off 32 balls. Though his performance with the bat in the recent T20 World Cup was below par, he excelled as a wicketkeeper for India.
Now, his bowling debut in the Delhi Premier League has sparked discussions about the evolving roles of players under the guidance of the current Indian coaching staff, including head coach Gautam Gambhir.
The inaugural season Delhi Premier League T20
The Delhi Premier League T20 kicked off with a grand opening ceremony at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, featuring performances by music sensation Badshah and actress Sonam Bajwa. The tournament aims to bring together the best of men’s and women’s cricket, with matches scheduled to run until September 8, 2024.
As fans continue to discuss Pant’s unexpected bowling debut, the DPL 2024 promises to deliver more thrilling moments and showcase the talents of its players throughout the competition.