In the electrifying lead-up to Saturday's clash between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2024, all eyes were on Rishabh Pant. After more than a year's hiatus following a tumultuous accident in December 2022, Pant's return to the field was eagerly anticipated. The multifaceted player not only batted and kept wickets but also took on the mantle of captaincy. Despite his seamless performance, the match concluded unfavorably for his team.

[source]

In a post-game interview with the official broadcast, Pant candidly admitted to feeling nervous, understandably so given the circumstances surrounding his comeback. Reflecting on the match, he speculated that the outcome might have differed had Ishant Sharma not succumbed to a twisted ankle, leaving the Capitals one bowler short.

"I was pretty nervous," Pant confessed. "But this isn't the first time you're feeling nervous. Happy about [returning to the game] but at the same time, I think we had a par score but because we were one bowler short, because of Ishant's injury, but can't do much about it."

Ishant Sharma's brief but impactful stint on the field saw him bowling Shikhar Dhawan with the first ball of his second over and executing a brilliant run-out of Jonny Bairstow. However, an unfortunate injury to his right ankle while fielding forced him out of the game prematurely, leaving the Capitals to rely on other bowlers more than they had planned.

Pant noted, "Ishant's injury was clearly evident on the field, because we were anyway playing with one bowler short. But at the same time, we were a little short on the extra bowling and he got injured. I think that was the part where we lacked."

Despite the setback, Pant highlighted the pivotal contribution of Abishek Porel, who emerged as an impact substitute for Ricky Bhui. Porel's explosive 32 runs from just ten balls injected much-needed momentum into the Kings' innings, ultimately setting a competitive target for the Capitals.

"I think it's been an amazing innings," Pant praised Porel. "He set the innings well for us, and in the end, we finished on a high because of him. And congratulations to him. I think it was his fifth game. He is pretty new. But the kind of impact he made was pretty big."

As Pant looks forward to the rest of the IPL season, he remains optimistic about the team's prospects, buoyed by the resilience and talent displayed by his teammates despite the challenges faced in their recent encounter with the Capitals.