IPL 2024, DC vs CSK: Rishabh Pant & Delhi Capitals Brilliance Suppressed By Unecessary MS Dhoni Noise In Vizag

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Rishabh Pant's spectacular fifty was overshadowed by the unecessary noise created by the sea of yellow after the cameo played by veteran Mahendra Singh Dhoni in match 13 of IPL 2024 at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Sunday (March 31).

Dhoni rolled back the clock with an unbeaten 37 off 16 balls, but still couldn't see Chennai Super Kings home in the run chase against Delhi Capitals in Vizag, where Pant had earlier scored 51 off 32 balls to set a target of 192.

Pant, who missed action for over a year following multiple injuries from a near-fatal car crash, returned to competitive cricket at the start of the ongoing IPL 2024. The 26-year-old made scores of 18 from 13, and 28 from 26 in the first two innings, smashing 4 fours and 1 six in those knocks.

Walking in to bat at number 3 and seeing three partners depart, Pant smashed 4 fours and 3 sixes in his knock before falling to the deadly Matheesha Pathirana for 51. While his teammates struggle against Pathirana, Pant scored two fours and a six against the Sri Lanka speedster.

Why Pant fifty deserved even more noise than Dhoni's cameo in Vizag?

The crowd went berserk on Dhoni's arrival and during the veteran's cameo. There was rightful praise for the seasoned cricketer from the CSK fans, commentators and experts, but Pant's knock is something that shouldn't be ignored in all the MSD madness.

Despite DC pulling off their first win of the campaign, most of the noise was in reaction to the cameo of MS Dhoni, who in fact could have been back in the dugout within two balls of his arrival if Khaleel Ahmed had held on to a sitter at point.

Furthermore, Dhoni's late arrival to the crease may have also cost CSK the match. Also, Dhoni had no pressure to get runs in a potential lost cause. So, Pant's knock which took DC to a challenging total deserves even more praise.

Coming back to Pant's fifty, the wicketkeeper-batter also hit his trademark one-handed six. Following the match, Pant said he always had the belief that he would be able to return to action and dominate opposition bowlers once again.

"I haven't played much cricket, but I kept believing I could change the match. One and a half years," Pant said when he was asked if he was also waiting, like the rest of the cricket fraternity, to see him hit a one-handed six.

Pant was on 23 off 23 entering the middle overs with Delhi's scoring rate dipping after an quick start provided by openers David Warner and Prithvi Shaw, who added 93 for the first wicket in just 57 balls.

The 26-year-old's fifty is a good sign for Indian cricket ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. Pant could be among several wicketkeeping options fighting for two spots in the squad for the show-piece event.

Team India has missed a player of Pant's ability in important matches over the last year. So, the Indian cricket fans will hope the aggressive wicketkeeper-batter adds on to this fifty in the remainder of IPL 2024.

DC's Director of Cricket and former India cricketer Sourav Ganguly lauded Pant for his brilliant 51-run innings, stating that the wicketkeeper-batter will cherish it for a lifetime.

"Well played Rishabh Pant... you will remember this innings for a lifetime... You have played many brilliant ones and will play even better ones but this story will remain with you always," Ganguly posted on X.