Rishabh Pant's Stern Warning to DC Teammates Post Humbling Defeat by KKR

Photo : BCCI/Sportzpics

Delhi Capitals' bowlers suffered a forgettable outing against Kolkata Knight Riders as the latter's batters dominated, posting a formidable total of 272/7. Expressing disappointment, Delhi Capitals' captain Rishabh Pant called on his teammates to reflect on their performance after the team's crushing 106-run defeat in the IPL match on Wednesday. "Our bowlers were all over the place. We just didn't turn up on the day. Today was one of those days," Pant remarked during the post-match presentation ceremony.

Despite the loss, Pant emphasized the team's commitment to aggressive batting. "As a batting unit, we only wanted to keep going hard as a team. I would rather get all out as a team than not go for the target," he added.

Reflecting on a crucial moment in the match, Pant admitted to a missed opportunity when he failed to call for a DRS review on an outside edge by Sunil Narine early in the game. "I think it was quite loud here. At the same time, couldn't see the timer on the screen. There was some problem on the screen. But there are some things you can control, some things you can't," Pant explained.

Concerning the team's bowling strategy, Pant acknowledged the decision to underutilize spinners, with Axar Patel bowling only one over that yielded 18 runs. "The thought process was that we didn't want to use spinners, but our fast bowlers were going through the motions. I think it is time for reflection as an individual. We need to learn from these mistakes and come out positive in the next match," Pant remarked.

Despite the loss, Pant showcased fine form with the bat, scoring his second consecutive fifty. "Doing fine. Getting out there. Enjoying every day but cricket has its own ups and downs," he commented.

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Sunil Narine, awarded the Player of the Match for his blazing 85 off 39 balls, expressed his focus on contributing with the bat. "Cricket is all about batting so looking to contribute more as a batter. That said, I still enjoy bowling," Narine stated. Responding to a team joke about not attending batting meetings, Narine quipped, "I have one role, and the less I know, the better it is for me. If they need me to bat, I will bat," he added.

Meanwhile, winning captain Shreyas Iyer lauded Narine and young Angkrish Raghuvanshi for their outstanding performances. "As I said in the toss interview, Sunny is there to take on the bowlers, and if he cannot, the rest of us should. That's the plan," Iyer remarked. Praising Raghuvanshi's fearlessness, work ethic, and smart batting, Iyer highlighted the young player's impressive innings, stating, "He was fearless from ball one. His work ethic is phenomenal. He analyses situations well. He is a smart batter, and his shots were pleasing to the eye.