In the Delhi Premier League 2024, the Indian cricket team’s wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant faced harsh criticism on social media following his debut in the Delhi Premier League (DPL) on Saturday, where he played for Purani Dilli 6 against South Delhi Superstar. Pant scored 35 runs off 32 balls, but his innings lacked the usual aggressive flair he is known for, particularly struggling against spin. Although his innings included four boundaries and a six, his strike rate was a mere 109, below expectations.
DPL Season: Delhi Premier League 2024
Pant had performed well in the T20 World Cup 2024, but failed to play a significant inning, a point that fans highlighted as they expected him to deliver a big score at the top of the order. Before the match, the left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman was honored by Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) President Rohan Jaitley and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice-President Rajeev Shukla for his outstanding performance in India’s ICC T20 World Cup victory.
In the tournament, Pant scored 171 runs across eight innings, averaging 24.42, with his highest score being 42. Despite challenging conditions at Nassau County Stadium in the USA, Pant played some of the tournament’s most valuable innings for an Indian player. He was also exceptional behind the stumps, taking 13 catches and making one stumping, totaling 14 dismissals—the most by any wicketkeeper in a single T20 World Cup.
Saturday’s grand opening ceremony at Arun Jaitley Stadium marked the official start of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) T20’s first season. The event was attended by top management of DDCA, franchise team owners, players, and staff from all participating men’s and women’s teams.
