NEW DELHI: Delhi cricket has finally got a showpiece event. The inaugural Delhi Premier League T20 got underway with a glitzy opening ceremony at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday evening.
The tournament couldn’t have asked for a better opening than having Rishabh Pant taking the field.
The concert of Badshah and Sonam Bajwa to start the evening aside, the semi-full stadium cheered the most when Pant walked on to the dais as the captains of the men’s and women’s teams were unveiled.
To mark a milestone day for the cricket body, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) honoured four of its star players who have served Indian cricket with aplomb in the last 15 years. The DDCA handed out cheques to Virat Kohli, Pant, Ishant Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan before Pant went for the toss. Except Virat, the other three were present.
It was an evening where the limelight followed Pant as he led Purani Delhi 6 against South Delhi Superstarz in the inaugural game of the league. Pant had committed to DDCA that he would feature in one match. As his team was sent in to bat by Ayush Badoni, Pant played a rather sedate knock of 35 off 31 balls coming in at No. 3 even as young Arpit Rana got going to bring up a breezy half-century.
”I am really excited to play in Delhi Premier League because I feel on the ground level it’s a very big opportunity for players who don’t get recognition in IPL. When people see playing you in these leagues, they can pick you from these league. Hopefully, they (young players) have a good journey in the tournament,” Pant said Pant has been busy with his commitments after returning from the tour of Sri Lanka.
He walked in for the match straight from the airport. The lack of training and fatigue showed in his knock.
But he would keep an eye out for wrist spinner Digvesh Rathi who was difficult to pick and tied down Pant and Rana.
Just when Pant threatened to take the game away, he topedged a pull off Kunwar Bidhuri. Pant didn’t opt to keep wickets. He let Vansh Bedi don the gloves. The Pant show may have been over but he ensured DDCA’s dream project got off to a roaring start. The game was on at the time of reporting.
The tournament couldn’t have asked for a better opening than having Rishabh Pant taking the field.
The concert of Badshah and Sonam Bajwa to start the evening aside, the semi-full stadium cheered the most when Pant walked on to the dais as the captains of the men’s and women’s teams were unveiled.
To mark a milestone day for the cricket body, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) honoured four of its star players who have served Indian cricket with aplomb in the last 15 years. The DDCA handed out cheques to Virat Kohli, Pant, Ishant Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan before Pant went for the toss. Except Virat, the other three were present.
It was an evening where the limelight followed Pant as he led Purani Delhi 6 against South Delhi Superstarz in the inaugural game of the league. Pant had committed to DDCA that he would feature in one match. As his team was sent in to bat by Ayush Badoni, Pant played a rather sedate knock of 35 off 31 balls coming in at No. 3 even as young Arpit Rana got going to bring up a breezy half-century.
”I am really excited to play in Delhi Premier League because I feel on the ground level it’s a very big opportunity for players who don’t get recognition in IPL. When people see playing you in these leagues, they can pick you from these league. Hopefully, they (young players) have a good journey in the tournament,” Pant said Pant has been busy with his commitments after returning from the tour of Sri Lanka.
He walked in for the match straight from the airport. The lack of training and fatigue showed in his knock.
But he would keep an eye out for wrist spinner Digvesh Rathi who was difficult to pick and tied down Pant and Rana.
Just when Pant threatened to take the game away, he topedged a pull off Kunwar Bidhuri. Pant didn’t opt to keep wickets. He let Vansh Bedi don the gloves. The Pant show may have been over but he ensured DDCA’s dream project got off to a roaring start. The game was on at the time of reporting.
