'Had a better chance of qualifying if I played' - Rishabh Pant blames ban for DC's slim playoffs chances

The ongoing IPL 2024 season has been a rollercoaster ride for the Delhi Capitals (DC), with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. Skipper Rishabh Pant blamed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for his one-match suspension, which he believes cost his team a spot in the playoffs.

DC controlled the controllable with their 19-run win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). However, with 14 points and a poor net run rate (NRR) of -0.377, their playoff chances rely heavily on other results. This situation has led Pant to question the BCCI's decision to suspend him for a slow over-rate offense against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

"I wouldn't say we would have definitely won the game if I had played. But we had a better chance of qualifying if I would have had a chance to play in the last game," Pant said in the post-match interview.

Also read: Ravi Shastri reveals how he cheered up dejected Rishabh Pant in Sydney Test in 2021

Start of the season was with a lot of hopes: Rishabh Pant

Pant's absence was surely felt as DC's campaign was already spoilt by inconsistency and injuries to key players like Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, and David Warner.

"I would say the start of the season was with a lot of hopes, some injuries," he added.

Despite Delhi's victory in their final league match of the season, their prospects of qualifying for the playoffs are extremely slim. For them to secure a spot, they would require both the Gujarat Titans (GT) and the Punjab Kings (PBKS), who have already been eliminated from the tournament.

Also read: How can Delhi Capitals qualify for playoffs after win against LSG in Match 64?

DC would need to win the toss and choose to bat first against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Secondly, they must score at least 200 and defeat SRH by a margin of 100 runs or more.