“Pooran gave us hard time”: Rishabh Pant following win over LSG

After securing a 19-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants, Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant acknowledged the challenge posed by LSG’s Nicholas Pooran during the match at Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Despite Pooran’s strong performance, Delhi’s strategic bowling, especially from Ishant Sharma and a robust showing in the death overs, led DC to finish the season in the fifth position with a balanced record of seven wins and losses.

Reflecting on both the match and the season’s ups and downs during the post-match presentation, Pant remarked, “Pooran was giving us a hard time, with the kind of calibre he has. But we had certain plans.”

Pant also commented on his personal comeback to cricket following a severe car accident in December 2022, “We started the season with a lot of hope, but there were injuries, and ups and downs. But as a franchise, you can’t complain all the time; you have to make use of what you have… There are some things which you can control, but some things that you cannot. Personally, it was fantastic to come back on the field. The kind of support I got from the whole of India was heartening to see. It was a long time to wait.”

Pant’s personal performance has been noteworthy; scoring 446 runs at an average of 40.54 with a strike rate of 155.40 in 13 innings, marking him as the ninth-highest run-scorer of the season. His role as a wicketkeeper also shined with several stunning catches and effective stumpings.