Cricket fraternity praises Rishabh Pant for monster knock against Gujarat Lions
Delhi Daredevils batsman Rishabh Pant has received a flurry of praises from cricket fraternity after he smashed a brilliant 43-ball 97-run knock to guide his side to a seven-wicket win over Gujarat Lions in their Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter here at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium last evening.
Pant, alongside Sanju Samson (61), helped his team sail to a crushing victory that ended Gujarat Lions' prospects of making it to the qualifiers in the ongoing tenth edition of the IPL.
Delhi made a mockery of a daunting looking 209, thanks to some exquisite power hitting from Pant and Samson that helped them chase down the target in just 17.3 overs.
The duo added 143 off 63 for the second wicket and took the game away from the Suresh Raina led-side.
Describing Pant and Samson as `special`, former Indian skipper and current president of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) Sourav Ganguly called on the other teams to be wary of the duo.
"Rishabh pant,Sanju Samson ...tonite wow..keep an eye on them teams ...they are special," he tweeted.
Rishabh pant,Sanju Samson ...tonite wow..keep an eye on them teams ...they are special..
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) May 4, 2017
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag also heaped praise on Pant for his blistering knock, saying "Love batsman with tremendous belief in themselves which is backed by a special ability for ball hitting. Extra Special today from Rishabh Pant."
Love batsman with tremendous belief in themselves which is backed by a special ability for ball hitting.Extra Special today frm Rishabh Pant
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) May 4, 2017
Renowned Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle also hailed Pant, saying that the Delhi Daredevils batsman must see the ball much before the bowler conceive it.
"This Rishabh Pant must see the ball before the bowler has conceived it. This is special. Take care of him. In contrasting styles, the elegance of Samson and the power of Pant has made this a captivating session," Bhogle wrote in a series of tweets.
This Rishabh Pant must see the ball before the bowler has conceived it. This is special. Take care of him.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 4, 2017
In contrasting styles, the elegance of Samson and the power of Pant has made this a captivating session.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 4, 2017
Describing Pant's knock as `fearless`, Indian opener Rohit Sharma said that the Delhi Daredevils batsman truly deserved a century.
"Deserved a hundred @RishabPant777 fearless knock. Well played #III. Pant-storm in Delhi #IPL," Sharma wrote on Twitter.
Deserved a hundred @RishabPant777 fearless knock. Well played #III
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) May 4, 2017
Earlier, legendery cricketer Sachin Tendulkar dubbed Pant's knock as "one of the best innings" in tournaments history.
One of the best Innings I have seen in the IPL & that includes all 10 seasons. @RishabPant777 pic.twitter.com/SGv3YuXwJ5
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) May 4, 2017
On 97, Pant edged a ball from Basil Thampi and he stood aghast as he missed out on a well deserved century.
This was the second-highest chase in the history of IPL and the result not only kept Delhi Daredevils in the race for a playoff spot, but it also knocked Gujarat Lions out of the tournament.
Delhi, who are now standing at the sixth spot with eight points from 10 games, will take on Mumbai Indians on Saturday.
-ANI
First published: 5 May 2017, 11:36 IST