'He wasn't up to the mark': Rishabh Pant under fire after Delhi Capitals' loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad

NEW DELHI: Delhi Capitals ' defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday sparked disappointment among fans, with captain Rishabh Pant facing criticism for his lackluster performance.

Chasing a challenging target of 267, Pant's slow-paced innings of 44 runs off 35 balls drew scrutiny and raised questions from supporters.

Despite his efforts, Delhi Capitals fell short by 67 runs, ending with just 199 runs on the board with five balls remaining.

This loss dropped them to the seventh spot in the IPL points table, having secured only three wins in eight games this season.

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Sunrisers Hyderabad set a formidable tone with their batting display, particularly Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who amassed a record-breaking 125 runs in the first six overs, laying the groundwork for their team's imposing total of 266/7.

Despite spirited contributions from Jake Fraser McGurk (65 off 18) and Abhishek Porel (42 off 22) in the middle overs, Delhi Capitals struggled to maintain momentum after losing their openers.

Pant, who had shown promising form with back-to-back fifties earlier in IPL 2024, faced criticism for his subdued innings against the SRH attack.

Fans questioned Pant's decision to bat at No. 6 instead of his usual No. 4 position, expressing frustration at his inability to accelerate the run chase effectively.

Some even raised doubts about his potential inclusion in India's T20 World Cup squad, highlighting the gravity of his performance in the context of the upcoming international tournament.

Following the disappointing loss, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar offered words of consolation to Pant during the post-match presentation.

"I never want your head down, there are lots of games so keep a smile always," Gavaskar told Pant, who responded, "I will try my best, sir."

Here's how fans reacted after the match:

As Delhi Capitals aim to recover from this setback, the scrutiny on Pant's form and leadership decisions intensifies, emphasizing the challenges they face in regaining momentum in the remainder of the IPL season.