Cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra believes that Delhi Capitals would have gone on to lift the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 trophy had Rishabh Pant stayed longer in the field.
While reviewing the grand-finale match between MI and DC on his YouTube Channel, Akash Chopra mentioned Rishabh Pant’s dismissal. The wicketkeeper-batsman and DC captain Shreyas Iyer started the rescue operation after Delhi Capitals top-order was out for 22 runs. They build a solid partnership, and it looked they would take away the game from the defending champions before Pant was sent back. He was out after scoring the first half-century of the tournament.
“Rishabh Pant’s dismissal was the turning point of the match. Because there was a very good partnership going on. Where you were 22/4 and from there you had put together a 96-run stand.”
Chopra believes that if Pant had remained for longer and had hit continuous boundaries, DC would have set over 175 runs target.
“And till the time Rishabh Pant was there, he had struck two boundaries in that over and if he had played more, then he would taken the score to 175-180 or even 190.”
Rishabh Pant proved why he is the X-factor: Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra was impressed to seen old Rishabh Pant back taking on bowlers to damage any attack. He added that the southpaw gave ample proof of the novelty that he possesses when he plays aggressively.
“He was batting very well after a long time. I had even said that Rishabh Pant had left his destructive self in immigration. So that destructive Rishabh Pant was taken back from the customs and brought into this final match.”
“When he plays like this, we come to know why he is the X-factor. And I am a huge fan of him and I like it when he does well,” Aakash Chopra said.
IPL would have got new winners: Chopra
The renowned commentator concluded that the IPL would have even got a new winner had Pant not recklessly played that shot off Nathan-coulter Nile’s ball.
“The time he got out, I think that was the turning point. The runs had already come in that over and if he played the slower bouncer a little cautiously and had not tried to hit another boundary, then probably this match might have taken a different course and the IPL might have got a new champion,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
Delhi Capitals first time entered the grand finale of the IPL while for the second consecutive time played the playoffs. They are surely going to be the strong contender of the IPL trophy next year.