Rishabh Pant’s return to competitive cricket was the talking point in the lead-up to Delhi Capitals’ first match of IPL 2024 against Punjab Kings on Saturday (March 23). However, it didn’t end to his liking, as Punjab won the clash by four wickets at their new home stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh. 

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Reflecting on his anticipated return to the cricket field after nearly 450 days, Pant said he felt nervous, not for the first time, adding he was happy about making his comeback following a dreadful road accident on December 30, 2022. 

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Speaking to the host broadcaster after Delhi’s four-wicket loss, Pant said Ishant’s injury led to them running out of bowlers in the death, which resulted in Punjab taking advantage of the situation and walking away with a win.

“Personally, I was pretty nervous, but you have to go through this when you enter the field,” Pant said after the game. 

“But this isn’t the first time you’re feeling nervous. Happy about [returning to the game], but at the same time, I think we had a par score but because we were one bowler short, because of Ishant’s injury, but can’t do much about it,” DC captain added.

Ishant’s injury an issue for DC

Veteran seamer Ishant bowled a few wide balls in the first over, besides conceding a four, but returned to remove PBKS Captain Shikhar Dhawan bowled in his second over. He also accounted for Jonny Bairstow’s run-out in the same over but twisted his ankle while fielding later, playing no further part in the game. 

His injury meant DC was a bowler-less, and Mitchell Marsh and Sumit Kumar were used to compensate for that.

“Ishant injury was clearly evident on the field because we were anyway playing with one bowler short after we lacked with the bat a little bit,” Pant said when asked where the game went away from them. 

“But, end of the day, when Abishek [Porel] came in, he chipped in with a few runs, which were very crucial. But at the same time, we were a little short on the extra bowling, and he [Ishant] got injured. I think that was the part where we lacked. Because I think the boys actually pulled it back in the end, but it’s part and parcel of the game,” DC’s captain added. 

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