NEW DELHI: Delhi Capitals' defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday sparked disappointment among fans, with captain Rishabh Pant facing criticism for his lackluster performance.
Chasing a challenging target of 267, Pant's slow-paced innings of 44 runs off 35 balls drew scrutiny and raised questions from supporters. Despite his efforts, Delhi Capitals fell short by 67 runs, ending with just 199 runs on the board with five balls remaining.
This loss dropped them to the seventh spot in the IPL points table, having secured only three wins in eight games this season.
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Sunrisers Hyderabad set a formidable tone with their batting display, particularly Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who amassed a record-breaking 125 runs in the first six overs, laying the groundwork for their team's imposing total of 266/7.
Despite spirited contributions from Jake Fraser McGurk (65 off 18) and Abhishek Porel (42 off 22) in the middle overs, Delhi Capitals struggled to maintain momentum after losing their openers.
Pant, who had shown promising form with back-to-back fifties earlier in IPL 2024, faced criticism for his subdued innings against the SRH attack.
Fans questioned Pant's decision to bat at No. 6 instead of his usual No. 4 position, expressing frustration at his inability to accelerate the run chase effectively.
Some even raised doubts about his potential inclusion in India's T20 World Cup squad, highlighting the gravity of his performance in the context of the upcoming international tournament.
Following the disappointing loss, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar offered words of consolation to Pant during the post-match presentation.
"I never want your head down, there are lots of games so keep a smile always," Gavaskar told Pant, who responded, "I will try my best, sir."
Here's how fans reacted after the match:
As Delhi Capitals aim to recover from this setback, the scrutiny on Pant's form and leadership decisions intensifies, emphasizing the challenges they face in regaining momentum in the remainder of the IPL season.
1/10:IPL: Travis Head leads Sunrisers Hyderabad to victory vs Delhi Capitals
AFP
2/10:Travis Head's Heroics
Travis Head smashed 89 off 32 balls to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad to another huge IPL total of 266-7 in a crushing 67-run victory over Delhi Capitals.AFP
3/10:Delhi Capitals' Struggle
Delhi were bowled out for 199 in 19.1 overs, with left-arm quick T Natarajan returning impressive figures of 4-19.AFP
4/10:Hyderabad's Dominance
Hyderabad jumped to second spot behind Rajasthan Royals with five wins in seven matches.PTI
5/10:Explosive Opening Stand
Head blasted a 16-ball 50 in an explosive opening stand with fellow left-hander Abhishek Sharma to tear into the opposition attack as Hyderabad reached 100 in five overs and 125 in six.AFP
6/10:Kuldeep Yadav's Impact
Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav checked the carnage with two wickets in the seventh over as he sent back Sharma, out for 46 off 12 balls, and then Aiden Markram, for one.AFP
7/10:Shahbaz Ahmed's Brilliance
Shahbaz Ahmed's unbeaten 59 off 29 balls steered Hyderabad to a commanding total.AFP
8/10:Delhi's batting struggles
Washington Sundar opened the bowling and was hit for four straight boundaries by Prithvi Shaw but got his revenge on the fifth when he dismissed the opener for 16.AFP
9/10:Jake Fraser-McGurk's Blitz
Jake Fraser-McGurk smacked an 18-ball 65 and put on 84 runs with Abishek Porel, who hit 42, to keep Delhi in the chase briefly.AFP
