Pandya and Pant during the toss [X.com]
Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians pulverised Delhi Capitals by 29 runs to register their first win of the IPL 2024 season on April 6.
The outcome also enabled the five-time winners to climb up the points table, while Rishabh Pant and co. slipped to the bottom of the ten-team standings.
After the match, Hardik Pandya acknowledged his reunion with national teammate Rishabh Pant, who recently made his comeback to competitive cricket after a gap of 14 months.
Hardik shares special message for comeback man
Moments after Mumbai Indians completed their demolition job on Delhi Capitals, winning skipper Hardik Pandya shared a special message on his reunion with national teammate Rishabh Pant.
Taking to Instagram, Pandya wrote:
“Great to see you where you belong.”
Back in December 2022, Rishabh Pant was involved in a near-fatal car accident near Roorkee. The resultant injuries kept him out of action for over a year, and he eventually made his return to competitive cricket through the IPL 2024 season.
As far as cricket is concerned, Mumbai Indians batted first and charted 234-5 off their 20 overs. Openers Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan clubbed sparkling 40s while Romario Shepherd bludgeoned a 10-ball 39* at the death.
In response, Delhi Capitals shaped 205 runs to fall 29 short of their target. Tristan Stubbs listed an unbeaten 25-ball 71 to top score in the innings while Prithvi Shaw blazed his way to a 40-ball 66.
Captain Rishabh Pant, however, failed to get going in the run-chase as he was dismissed for just a run to his name by Gerald Coetzee.