DC vs LSG: "We had better chance of qualifying if..." - Rishabh Pant reveals how his 1-match ban diminished DC's playoffs hopes

Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) locked horns with the KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 64th match of the Indian Premier League 2024 (IPL 2024) on Tuesday, May 14, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

DC were invited to bat first in the match and they posted a huge total of 208/4 on the board. In-form Jake Fraser-McGurk got out for a duck but Abishek Porel (58), Shai Hope (38), Rishabh Pant (33), and Tristan Stubbs (57*) batted brilliantly and made sure that their team scored big.

With the ball, DC did a great job in the powerplay and dismissed 4 LSG batters with Ishant Sharma picking 3 wickets. After that, they kept picking wickets at regular intervals but Nicholas Pooran (61) and Arshad Khan (58) gave DC a huge scare. In the end, DC restricted the opposition to 189/9 and won by 19 runs.

At the post-match presentation ceremony, Rishabh Pant admitted that Nicholas Pooran gave them a hard time and was happy with the job done by his bowlers. Rishabh Pant stated:

"Definitely Pooran was giving us a hard time. We had certain plans. The total was good enough. We kept on bowling good balls."

Rishabh Pant further said they started the season with high hopes but things didn't go their way. He also opined that DC would have been in a better position to qualify for playoffs had he played the last match against RCB. Notably, Pant was banned for that game due to DC's third slow over-rate offense. Rishabh Pant said:

"I would say the start of the season was with a lot of hopes. Some injuries. We are still in contention even after the last game. We had a better chance of qualifying if I would have had a chance to play in the last game."

Rishabh Pant at last was asked about his personal journey in IPL 2024 as he made a comeback to cricket after a lengthy absence. Rishabh Pant asserted:

"Personally, it was fantastic to come back. Was heartening to see the support from entire India. Was a long time to wait after one-and-a-half years. I want to be on the field all the time. Don't want to miss any action."

LSG vs DC Previous Meeting Result

In the Indian Premier League 2024, Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals faced off each other for the first time on April 12 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. DC bowlers did a great job by restricting LSG to 167/7 and then they pulled off the chase inside 18.1 overs to clinch a 6-wicket victory.

After being invited to bowl first in the match, it was Kuldeep Yadav, who bowled exceptionally well for DC. The left-arm wrist-spinner picked up three wickets for just 20 runs. He was well supported by fellow spinner Axar Patel, who although didn't pick wickets, gave away just 26 runs in his 4-over spell. DC pacers also did well in the innings as Khaleel Ahmed, Ishant Sharma, and Mukesh Kumar shared 4 wickets between them.

When it came to the run-chase, opener Prithvi Shaw (32) provided his team with a good start. After his dismissal, Jake Fraser-McGurk (55) smoked a fifty and Rishabh Pant too joined the party with his brilliant 41 runs innings. The rest of the job was done by Tristan Stubbs (15) and Shai Hope (11) as the duo steered DC to an incredible victory.