Dhawan, Pant share heartwarming moment during DPL 2024 opener
What's the story
Shikhar Dhawan and Rishabh Pant, both prominent figures in Indian cricket, shared a touching moment during the inaugural match of the Delhi Premier League 2024.
The game was held at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday.
Dhawan is not only a player but also the co-owner of South Delhi Superstars team, while Pant leads the Purani Dilli 6 team.
Emotive embrace
A hug that stole the show
The emotional highlight of the match occurred when Dhawan, who was being interviewed by the host broadcaster, paused mid-conversation to embrace Pant.
This happened as Pant was passing by after his dismissal for a 35 off 32.
The picture of their warm hug has since gone viral on social media platforms, showcasing the camaraderie between these two cricketing stars.
Match highlights
South Delhi Superstars clinch victory in DPL opener
The match saw South Delhi Superstars secure a three-wicket victory over Purani Dilli 6, thanks to impressive half-centuries from captain Ayush Badoni and Priyansh Arya.
Despite a strong performance from Arpit Rana (59 off 41) and Vansh Bedi (47 off 19) that helped Purani Dilli 6 post a challenging total of 197/3 in their allotted overs, the Superstars successfully chased down the target with five balls to spare.
Game changers
Powerplay and game-changing performances
The Superstars began their chase of 198 runs at a rapid pace, scoring as many as 73 runs in the Powerplay.
This was largely due to aggressive batting from opener Priyansh Arya and Sarthak Ray.
In the same over, skipper Ayush Badoni, who had started his innings cautiously, struck four consecutive sixes off Ankit Bhadana, taking the team's total to 140/1.
Match conclusion
Resilience and final victory
The game took a dramatic turn as Purani Dilli 6 claimed four wickets in quick succession, leaving South Delhi needing 13 runs off the last two overs.
However, Vision Panchal and Digvesh Rathi showed resilience as they chased down the target with five balls to spare.
This marked a thrilling end to the inaugural match of the Delhi Premier League 2024.