IPL 2024: The powerplay was the difference – Rishabh Pant after loss against Sun risers Hyderabad

Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant admitted the Powerplay was the difference after their 67-run loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Saturday. SRH posted a gargantuan score of 266 runs, the third time they have gone past the 250-run mark this season, on the board after they were put into bat by Pant.

In-form Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma gave a rollicking start to the Orange Army, smashing a record-breaking 125 runs in the first six overs. SRH’s fifty came in the 3rd over, with Travis Head completing his half-century off 16 balls.

The visitors crossed the 100-run mark in the fifth over as both Abhishek and Head took DC’s bowlers to the cleaners. Head scored an unbelievable knock of 89 runs off just 32 balls at a strike rate of 278.12 whereas Sharma scored a blistering knock of 12-ball 46.

Furthermore, when the likes of Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen were dismissed cheaply, Shahbaz Ahmed scored 59 off 29 balls to add the finishing touches.

Rishabh Pant said after the loss, “I think the only thought process behind it was there could be dew which didn’t come (on choosing to bowl first), but we would still have had a chance had we restricted them to 220-230. The powerplay was the difference, they got (125) runs and we ended up playing catching up after that. The ball stopped more in the 2nd innings, that was more than we anticipated, but when we needed to chase 260, 270, you’ll need to keep scoring. Hopefully, we’ll come up with more thought process and a clear mindset going forward.”

On the other hand, Jake Fraser-McGurk continued to impress, scoring an 18-ball 65. But the target of 267 was always going to be a daunting task for DC.

Pant hailed the youngster, stating, “His batting has been phenomenal (on Fraser-McGurk), he’s been nice for us, that’s what we need to do as a team, be together, look at areas where we can improve going into the next game.”

Delhi Capitals will next take on Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Wednesday.