IPL 2018: Suresh Raina Awestruck By Rishabh Pant's Stunning Century

The proceedings between Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad started on expected notes at the Feroz Shah Kotla. Delhi’s young and exciting batting lineup was up against the best bowling lineup in the competition. Not surprisingly, it was the Sunrisers who were winning the contest early on.

Shakib Al Hasan sent back in-form Prithvi Shaw and Jason Roy cheaply to reduce Delhi to 21 for 2. Delhi’s innings then took further blow when a miscommunication between Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer led to the latter’s run out. Pant and Harshal Patel then stopped the rot for a while but another run-out put the visitors firmly on top as Delhi found themselves four down for just 98.

However, it was just the calm before the storm. Pant was not ready to throw in the towel yet as he took the Sunrisers attack to the cleaners to help Delhi recover from the shaky start. The southpaw has been one of the stars of Delhi’s otherwise sub-par campaign so far. He was their highest scorer with 393 runs in IPL 2018 before the game and once again led the way with the bat. He had scored 69 off 29 in the win over Rajasthan Royals, 79 off 45 in the 13-run loss against Chennai Super Kings and a brilliant 85 off 48 against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The highly-rated wicketkeeper batsman once again showed why he is such hot commodity in the shortest format of the game, slamming a blistering 128 not out off only 63 deliveries. The innings was studded with 15 fours and 7 sixes.

With wickets falling from one end and him being involved in two-run outs, he was forced to adapt a cautious approach. As a result, he took as many as 36 balls to score his fifty. However, once he had his eyes set, it was total carnage. It took him only 20 more balls to reach from 50 to hundred. The highlight of the innings came in the very last over when he was up against Bhuvneshwar Kumar, arguably the best pacers in the league at the moment.

Bhuvneshwar started the over by sending back Glenn Maxwell. However, his next five balls went over the ropes as hit him for two fours and three consecutive sixes.

Just like everyone, Suresh Raina was also awestruck by Pant’s innings and his tweet perfectly summed up everyone’s reaction. The India and Chennai Super Kings star recalled the 97-run innings that Pant had played against Gujarat Lions last year before hailing the youngster, tweeting:

“Can’t believe what I just saw! Still remember the 97 he scored against GL last year. Unbelievable hitting from @RishabPant777. Great going my boy. Keep it up.”

Can't believe what I just saw! Still remember the 97 he scored against GL last year. Unbelievable hitting from @RishabPant777. Great going my boy. Keep it up. #DDvSRH #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/AK3mpC29Bx

— Suresh Raina?? (@ImRaina) May 10, 2018

Pant’s special knock, however, went in vain as fifties from Shikhar Dhawan and Kane Williamson fired Sunrisers to a crushing 9-wicket win. Dhawan remained unbeaten on 92 while Williamson scored 80 not out as Sunrisers reached home in the 19th over.