So Far, So Good For Rishabh As DC Captain At IPL

Rishabh Pant is learning the ropes of captaincy at Delhi Capitals in the IPL season 14 that began on April 9. The dashing left-hander, who has changed the template of batting across all formats of the game, got the leadership role at the misfortune of Shreyas Iyer, who hurt his left shoulder in the India-England ODI series in Pune and subsequently underwent surgery. After Pant’s appointment as captain, co-owner of the franchise Parth Jindal said: “Delhi Capitals plays passionate cricket, and Rishabh Pant embodies that best.” Pant has played 72 matches for the Delhi franchise in the old and new avatar of Daredevils and Capitals, but as captain four times this season. Barring a 32-ball 51 against Rajasthan Royals, he has not exactly set the league on fire, but he has led the team to victory in three of the four matches. “As a wicket-keeper, I keep on reading the game,” says Pant. “With seniors around and Ricky Ponting (Head Coach) around, it’s going great for me (as captain). We are not focusing on outside things like Covid. The BCCI is doing well to give us a good bubble and travelling arrangements. I also don’t think too much about individual match ups (facing Jasprit Bumrah against Mumbai Indians). Every day is a new day in cricket. One has to look at scenarios and not match ups, I guess.” Pant amassed 684 runs in 2018, his best in six seasons. He has to be in good nick right through, touch the 2018 form, if the Capitals have to win the title the first time in 14 seasons.