'No One Can Make Up For His Absence': Aakash Chopra On Rishabh Pant's Ban Vs RCB
Aakash Chopra on Rishabh Pant' IPL Ban [x.com]
Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant faces a one-match suspension and will miss the crucial IPL 2024 fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday, May 12, due to a slow over rate violation.
This comes at a critical time as Delhi Capitals, currently fifth on the points table with 12 points from 12 games, must win their remaining matches to secure a playoff spot.
Chopra On Rishabh Pant's Ban
Commentator and former cricketer Aakash Chopra shared his thoughts on this significant loss for the team. "Rishabh Pant has been banned. If you have two spinners in your team (Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, and even Lalit Yadav at times) and your overrate is still slow three times, you deserve to be banned, but it's come at a very bad time," he explained.
Chopra emphasized Pant's unique role, stating, "This team had got a little momentum and Rishabh Pant is a very critical cog in the scheme of things - not as a wicketkeeper because this team has a plethora of keepers, but Rishabh Pant the batter and Rishabh Pant the captain. This has become a point of concern. No one can make up for his absence."
Pant's leadership and explosive batting, with 413 runs at an average of 41.30 and a strike rate of 156.44 this season, have been pivotal for Delhi Capitals.
In Pant’s absence, young talent Abhishek Porel is expected to take on the wicketkeeping duties. Meanwhile, experienced all-rounder Axar Patel will lead the team in the upcoming match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.