Rishabh Pant played a sensational knock of 97 in 43 balls to guide Delhi Daredevils to a massive seven-wicket win over Gujarat Lions with 15 balls to spare in a chase of 209 on Thursday at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium.
The 19-year-old Pant clobbered the Lions bowling attack with a superlative display of power hitting, blasting six fours and nine sixes. The wicket-keeper batsman forged a 143- run partnership off 63 balls for the second wicket with Sanju Samson (61 off 31 balls) to take Daredevils on the threshold of victory. Unfortunately, he missed a well-deserved century by a mere three runs, but his ballistic innings ensured Delhi’s playoff hopes were alive.
Pant’s outstanding knock was the toast of Twitter, with Sachin Tendulkar calling it one of the best he as ever seen in the IPL to Virender Sehwag, who Pant is often compared too, also praising his belief. Here’s the best of Twitter on Rishabh Pant’s fantastic performance.
Praise poured in from cricket legends
One of the best Innings I have seen in the IPL & that includes all 10 seasons. @RishabPant777 pic.twitter.com/SGv3YuXwJ5
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) May 4, 2017
Love batsman with tremendous belief in themselves which is backed by a special ability for ball hitting.Extra Special today frm Rishabh Pant
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) May 4, 2017
Rishabh pant,Sanju Samson ...tonite wow..keep an eye on them teams ...they are special..
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) May 4, 2017
Brilliant innings from two talented young batsmen #sanjusamson & @RishabPant777 👏👏Loved their positivity,skill and fearless approach👌 #IPL
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) May 4, 2017
The future star of Indian cricket batted wearing 777 no: shirt for @DelhiDaredevils.Well batted @RishabPant777 #DDvGL.Sad to miss a 100 @IPL
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) May 4, 2017
Crazy clean hitting! 😳
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) May 4, 2017
Divided by teams, United by praise for Pant
@RishabPant777 you Beauty ✅✅✅✅🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥what a talent this young man🔝🔝🔝👊👊👊@DelhiDaredevils vs @TheGujaratLions
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) May 4, 2017
The exuberance of youth yet the calmness of veterans. What a partnership guys, Sanju Samson & @RishabPant777
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) May 4, 2017
Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/4GU3pHXAyA
Rishab Pant 🏏🏏
— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) May 4, 2017
Deserved a hundred @RishabPant777 fearless knock. Well played #III
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) May 4, 2017
Doesn't get much better #Pant #DDvGL #IPL
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) May 4, 2017
Love watching @RishabPant777 what a talent 👀👏🏻
— Jos Buttler (@josbuttler) May 4, 2017
Well played brother @RishabPant777 #DDvsGL #powerhitting💪💪
— yuZvendra Chahal23 (@yuzi_chahal) May 4, 2017
A word on Raina’s sporting gesture
Superfantabulous knock by Pant. Awesome hitting. Sadly fell 3 runs short of century. Great to see @ImRaina consoling him. Spirit of cricket!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 4, 2017
Magnificent gesture from @ImRaina. May this never go out of our game. Try your best to win, then acknowledge an opponent's gifts.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 4, 2017
Moment of the game was @ImRaina consoling @RishabPant777. That's what it's all abt! Well played Pant. #IPL
— Venky Mysore (@VenkyMysore) May 4, 2017
Here’s some number crunching
Highest score in an IPL innings before turning 20:
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) May 4, 2017
114* Manish Pandey
97 RISHABH PANT*
74 Sanju Samson @cricketaakash #DDvGL
Most sixes without hitting a four:
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) May 4, 2017
7 Nitish Rana (MI v KXIP 2017)
7 SANJU SAMSON (Tonight)
6 David Miller (KXIP v RR 2014)#DDvGL #IPL
Missing century by least runs in IPL:
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) May 4, 2017
99 Kohli
98 Raina, Rahane
97 PANT
96 Gayle, Amla#DDvGL