For the 50th match of the Indian Premier League, Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals will face off. The table-toppers showdown was eagerly anticipated. At the Dubai International Stadium, DC won the toss and chose to bowl first.
Rishabh Pant has proven his versatility across formats and has established himself as one of India’s most important players.
Along with his reckless approach to batting, his catching abilities have earned him accolades from all over the world. MS Dhoni, the keeper-batter, has often mentioned that he was his mentor and that he learned a lot from him.
When questioned about facing Dhoni, Pant stated that he has learned a lot from him, but that he is currently his opponent. He also stated that he is completely focused on the game.
“We will bowl first. The wicket might do a bit early, so better bowling first. We just need to focus on the basics, continue doing what we have been doing, want to finish in the top two.
“Ripal Patel is making his debut, Smith goes out. He’s a lower middle-order batsman who can bowl a few overs. Always great learning from him (MS Dhoni), but right now he’s a rival, so the focus is on the game,” said Rishabh Pant, according to reports on Hindustan Times.
What did MS Dhoni have to say?
In this round of the IPL, both Delhi and Chennai have had strong performances.
CSK bounced back stronger this year after a disappointing IPL 2020, proving why they are regarded as one of the finest teams in the tournament.
While providing updates on the team’s developments, Dhoni stated that maintaining the top spot is critical in order to get an advantage in the upcoming tournament.
“We were looking to bat first, but we were not 100% sure, the wicket seems to be tacky. We have got a few changes – Sam is out, Bravo is back, Chahar replaces Asif and Robin Uthappa replaces Suresh Raina, who has a back issue.
“We are trying to rest players who have some niggles, top-two is important, if you have a bad day in the qualifiers, you have another chance to make a comeback,” said MS Dhoni during the toss.
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