SPORTS

Captaining the side from the front, Captain Rishabh Pant showed his mettle with an unbeaten 88 off just 43 deliveries, assisted well by Axar Patel's aggressive 66 off 43 balls, pushing DC to a formidable total of 224/4. Although the overall tally runs appeared a daunting target, GT showed commendable run-scoring prowess with Sudharsan's 65 and Miller's 55 keeping them in the chase.

Introduced in IPL 2023 after successful trials in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the impact player rule permits all ten teams to substitute a player from the five nominated reserves at any point during a match, essentially converting an IPL game into a 12-player contest per side.

Facing a daunting target, Lucknow Super Giants faced an early setback as Quinton de Kock departed without scoring. However, despite the early setback, Stoinis, along with KL Rahul, kept their chase on track until Mustafizur Rahman struck, dismissing Rahul for 16 runs. Devdutt Padikkal's struggle continued as he managed only 12 runs off 16 balls.

This milestone moment unfolded during the intense clash between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians at the electrifying Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Chahal showcased his mastery of leg-spin as he artfully deceived Afghan batsman Mohammad Nabi with a well-flighted delivery, enticing him into a mistimed shot that resulted in an easy catch for Chahal, sealing his landmark achievement.

Jaiswal, known for his lofty standards, ended his dry spell in the IPL with a remarkable century, propelling Rajasthan Royals to a convincing nine-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians. Lara commended Jaiswal's approach, emphasizing his focus on playing authentic cricketing shots while patiently waiting for the right deliveries to capitalize on.

While Rohit has been designated as India’s skipper for the prestigious event, the question remains regarding his opening partner. Kohli, currently leading the run charts in IPL 2024 with a stellar performance for Royal Challengers Bengaluru as an opener, emerges as a strong contender. On the other hand, Yashasvi Jaiswal, despite facing a lean phase with Rajasthan Royals, has displayed glimpses of brilliance, including a notable half-century against Mumbai Indians.

Jaiswal's scintillating knock of 104 not out propelled Rajasthan to a formidable total of 183/1, after Sandeep Sharma's fiery spell of 5-18 had restricted Mumbai to 179/9 in their allotted 20 overs. Opting to bat first, Mumbai's hopes were pinned on Tilak Varma's 65 and Nehal Wadhera's 49, but Sharma's relentless bowling prowess dismantled their batting lineup.