Rishabh Pant becomes first DC batter with 3,000 IPL runs
Rishabh Pant has scripted history as he became the first batter to complete 3,000 Indian Premier League (IPL) runs for Delhi Capitals. He accomplished the feat with his ninth run in Match 26 of the 2024 IPL against the Lucknow Super Giants. Pant has been sensational for the Capitals as a keeper-batter. He has been the team's captain since the 2021 season.
Pant made his debut in 2016
Pant, the mainstay Indian wicketkeeper-batter in Test and ODI cricket, made his IPL debut in 2016. DC bought him for Rs. 1.90 crore ahead of the season. The left-hander made ordinary returns in his debut season (198 runs at 24.75), but DC backed him. As a result, he smashed a record-breaking 684 runs at 52.61 in 2018 (one century).
Most runs for DC
Eight years later, Pant has emerged as the nucleus of DC's batting order. Playing his 104th IPL game, the DC batter racked up 3,000-plus runs, averaging 34-plus. The wicket-keeper dasher has hammered 16 fifties and a solitary ton in the competition (SR: 148-plus). He is the only player to have featured in 100-plus games for DC.
Return to professional cricket
Notably, Pant made his comeback to professional cricket in DC's IPL 2024 opener. The deadly car crash in December 2022 forced him to miss several marquee events, including the IPL 2023. Pant was met with a fatal car accident while driving near Roorkee. He sustained several cuts and fractures throughout his body. After months of rehabilitation, the 26-year-old finally returned to action.
The tale of Pant's captaincy
Pant was named DC's captain for the 2021 IPL season after regular skipper Shreyas Iyer was ruled out due to injury. The former helped DC reach Qualifier 2 in that season. Therefore, DC retained Pant as their skipper for the following season. Playing his 35th game as DC captain, Pant owns 17 wins and as many defeats (before the MI game).
