Rishabh Pant has been one of the best players in the Indian T20 League ever since he made his debut in the 2016 edition of the tournament. He has amassed a total of 1736 runs since then, at an excellent average of 36.16 and a sensational strike-rate of 162.69, and no one has put more runs on the scoreboard since 2017 than Pant.
We take a look at three of Rishabh Pant’s most memorable knocks in the history of the Indian T20 League.
128* vs Hyderabad (2018)
Pant smashed an unbeaten 128 off just 63 deliveries in Delhi’s league match against Hyderabad in 2018. Delhi found themselves in trouble having lost two early wickets but once Pant walked out to bat, there was carnage unleashed on the ground.
He carted the Hyderabad bowlers all over the park and smashed 15 fours along with seven sixes en route to his innings of 128*.
Read | Three unforgettable Indian T20 League knocks by Hardik Pandya
Delhi got to a total of 187/5 as a result of Pant's innings. However, some fantastic batting by the Hyderabad’s top-order helped them chase the total down with five wickets and seven balls to spare.
97 vs Gujarat (2017)
This was another fantastic knock by Rishabh Pant and it came in his second season against Gujarat. Delhi had lost an early wicket in the form of Karun Nair chasing a massive target of 209, but Pant changed the momentum of the game once again when he walked out to bat at number three.
The southpaw shared a massive stand of 143 runs for the second wicket with Sanju Samson and took Delhi's score to 167/2 in the 14th over. As a result, the equation was brought down to 42 required off just 40 deliveries.
It looked like he was in for a century but was dismissed, caught behind off Basil Thampi's bowling for a score of 97 off just 43 deliveries. He struck six fours and nine sixes during his stay at the crease and was deservedly adjudged Player of the Match as well.
Read | Three unforgettable David Warner knocks in the Indian T20 League
78* vs Mumbai (2019)
This knock came in the tournament opener of the last season between Delhi and Mumbai. The crowd at the Wankhede Stadium witnessed a spectacle as Pant took a strong Mumbai bowling attack to the cleaners. His duel with Jasprit Bumrah in the final overs was the highlight of the match as Pant kept smashing him for sixes.
As a result of the southpaw's blitzkrieg of 78 off just 27 deliveries, which consisted of seven fours and seven sixes, Delhi posted a massive total of 213/6 on the board. Mumbai tried their best to chase it down but it proved to be too much for them in the end, as they were bowled out for a total of 176 runs in response.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Sajjad Hussain
