IPL 2018: Rishabh Pant States Unstoppable AB De Villiers' Wicket Was Crucial for Daredevils

Updated - 22 Apr 2018, 02:47 PM

Rishabh Pant
Rishab Pant of the Delhi Daredevils during the press conference after the match nineteen of the Vivo Indian Premier League 2018 (IPL 2018) between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Delhi Daredevils held at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on the 21st April 2018. Photo by: Arjun Singh / IPL/ SPORTZPICS

Delhi Daredevils (DD) wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant feels that the wicket of AB de Villiers’ was the key as that latter scored an unbeaten 90 during their loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by six wickets on Saturday night

Meanwhile, the South African batsman looked untroubled on a surface that had a bit of grip and turn for the spinners.

Delhi Daredevils’ skipper Gautam Gambhir, sensing opportunity opened the bowling with spinners, De Villiers was quick to get rid of them.

On paper, RCB looked short of a hard-hitter at the top, however, de Villiers put all those to rest with a breathtaking knock at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Credit: BCCI

We wanted to get him out earlier: Rishabh Pant

Pant, who top-scored for Delhi to help them post a challenging total, said that they were thinking of just getting that one wicket of De Villiers.

The Delhi-based wicket-keeper was outstanding last night with the bat. He played a blistering knock 48-ball 85 which included six boundaries and seven sixes.

We were thinking about only one thing – get him out as early as possible because he was making all the difference today. He played a brilliant knock,” said Pant.

Credit: BCCI

Meanwhile, Pant played a timely knock shifting gears at the right time. However, all that was overshadowed by De Villiers’s brilliance.

Iyer and I thought we’ll have a partnership and take it to the end and then attack the bowlers. We planned it out perfectly, but we lost, unfortunately. He (AB) was exceptional,” Pant concluded.

As a result, Delhi team is now at the bottom of the points table with only one win after featuring in five games.

Also read: Shikhar Dhawan plays a prank with Rashid Khan in the flight

Tagged:

Rishabh Pant