"Rishabh Pant is extra-special"- Delhi Capitals’ assistant coach Mohammad Kaif

Rishabh Pant took the third match of IPL 2019 by storm by smashing 78 off 27 balls to help Delhi Capitals post 213 in 20 overs. Pant’s knock included 7 fours and as many sixes. Not a single bowler from the Mumbai Indians’ could stop Pant’s carnage.  This is not the fastest fifty in the tournament as KL Rahul leads the list, having scored a 50 in 14 balls last season. But Pant’s monstrous knock has garnered praise from every quarter.

With the World Cup 2019 just two weeks after the IPL, the T20 extravaganza is very important for Pant to grab a spot in the squad for the mega event, because he is facing competition from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Dinesh Karthik. Pant’s strike rate during his knock was an astronomical 288.89 and it guided Delhi Capitals to a 37-run win over Mumbai Indians (MI).

Impressed with the youngster’s sensational batting, Delhi’s assistant coach Mohammed Kaif took to Twitter and heaped praises on him. Kaif wrote, “What an incredible talent @RishabPant777 is. Saw him bat while sitting in the dugout for the first time, and he reaffirmed that he is extra special.”

Here is Kaif’s tweet

What an incredible talent @RishabPant777 is. Saw him bat while sitting in the dugout for the first time, and he reaffirmed that he is extra special .

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) March 25, 2019

Sent into bat, Delhi were first boosted by Colin Ingram’s 32-ball 47 and then newly traded Shikhar Dhawan’s 43, before Pant’s storm began. In reply, MI’s innings got over at 176 in 19.2 and injured Jasprit Bumrah failed to come out and bat. Yuvraj Singh top-scored for the hosts with 53 off 35 balls.

A good comeback after India vs Australia ODIs

Pant had come under severe criticism during the India-Australia ODI series after coming in as MS Dhoni’s replacement for the final two matches but he had failed to live up to the hype, especially behind the stumps. Social media demanded that Dhoni or Karthik be brought back. However, the Delhi boy has once again proved his naysayers wrong with this sensational knock and is again one of the frontrunners for World Cup selection.

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