DC vs PBKS: Rishabh Pant closes in on major landmark

Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Rishabh Pant has been in great form recently, in the league stages of the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Pant has delivered a tidy show behind the stumps, along with some fantastic performances with the willow as well. The 23-year-old is closing in on a major milestone for the Delhi-based franchise, which he may well go on to achieve in the upcoming league tie against Punjab Kings (PBKS). Pant is six catches away from recording 50 catches as a wicket-keeper in the IPL. If we go into the finer details, he is three catches away from 50 grabs in the cash-rich league. The wicketkeeper-batsman will be the first to achieve this feat for DC in the tournament.

Pant was named as the skipper of the Delhi-based franchise, in the absence of regular skipper Shreyas Iyer who is sidelined due to an injury. DC won the opening game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a comfortable manner. However, they were defeated by Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their second league encounter.

It will be interesting to see if Pant unleashes Ravichandran Ashwin against Chris Gayle, considering his fantastic record against the Windies batsman. Ashwin has dismissed Gayle five times, with the cricketer managing to score just 51 runs against the off-spinner so far at a strike rate of 83.60. The spinner’s most memorable face-off against the Windies cricketer was in the 2011 IPL Final, where he managed to best Gayle in the clash between CSK and RCB.

Ashwin has further managed to dismiss PBKS opener Mayank Agarwal three times, which might see him opening the bowling for DC.

One can certainly expect an interesting match as two extremely formidable teams face-off, with a strong desire to get back to winning ways.