Rishabh Pant completed 4000 runs in T20 cricket during Delhi Capitals’ eight-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals at the DY Patil Stadium on Wednesday.
Pant, who came in after Mitchell Marsh fell, carted leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal for two sixes over long-off and deep extra cover to remain unbeaten at 13 off four balls and help Delhi reach 160 with 11 balls to spare.
“Arrived on the scene as an absolute smasher, living it like an audacious entertainer. 4000 T20 runs for our Captain Pantastic,” wrote the franchise on their official Twitter handle.
His T20 totals now stand at 4004 runs in 154 T20 matches at an average of 33.09 and a strike rate of 146.55, with two centuries and 22 half-centuries.
Earlier, Marsh led the chase with a 62-ball 89, while opener David Warner remained unbeaten on 52 off 41 balls as Delhi chased down 161 to earn a much-needed win over Rajasthan and keep their playoff hopes alive.
“It was close to a perfect game as I believe there is always space for improvement. On these kind of wickets where there is little turn, you can go either way. I am happy we bowled first. I thought 140-160 was a good score and said so at the toss. And we got there,” said Pant after the match.
Pant felt that if fielding had been better, it would have been the perfect match Delhi needed in an inconsistent campaign. “Destiny is always in your hands, you can look to give 100 percent. The fielding could be better, but this was close to a perfect game.”
Pant had signed off by saying that Delhi are missing the services of opener Prithvi Shaw, who is admitted to hospital due to high fever. “We miss him (Prithvi Shaw) but we can’t control that. He has typhoid or something like that is what the doctor told me.”
With 12 points in as many games and a fifth-place finish in the points table, Delhi will face Punjab Kings at DY Patil Stadium on Monday in an attempt to boost their playoff chances.
(Inputs from IANS)