'Heart cried when Rishabh Pant came to bat very low' - Aakash Chopra requests Rishabh Pant to bat up the order

As the IPL 2024 has reached its mid-point, every match is a must-win affair for the inconsistent Delhi Capitals (DC). Currently positioned at the sixth place on the points table, Delhi faces the ninth-placed Mumbai Indians (MI) on Saturday afternoon at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

For Delhi to secure a playoff berth, their skipper and premier batter Rishabh Pant needs to lead from the front. The big-hitting wicket-keeper has scored 342 runs in nine matches so far this season, including three brilliant fifties. However, his batting position in the lineup has been a subject of debate.

Former Indian opener turned commentator Akash Chopra has urged Pant to take up greater responsibility by batting higher up the order against Mumbai. Chopra was critical of Delhi's tactics of holding Pant back in their previous encounter against MI at Wankhede.

"My first player is Rishabh Pant. My heart cried when Rishabh Pant came to bat very low against this team last time. I said he should have batted as he could only have won the game. They lost by a very small margin to Mumbai," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Also read: Sourav Ganguly talks about importance of DC's clash against MI

I will request Rishabh with folded hands: Aakash Chopra

In that match, the Delhi camp sent in uncapped Abhishek Porel and Tristan Stubbs ahead of Pant during a daunting 235-run chase. By the time Pant arrived at the crease, the asking rate had skyrocketed, resulting in DC's 29-run defeat.

Chopra lauded Pant's recent 88-run knock against Gujarat Titans as the kind of impactful innings his side needs from its captain regularly.

"So I will request Rishabh with folded hands that he should come to bat up the order. You scored 88 in the last match and if the conditions are even slightly slower, no one will be able to play better than you. So please come up the batting order," the former India opener added.

Also read: DC vs MI Records & Stats at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

Pant's 43-ball knock against GT was a masterclass of controlled aggression with incredible stroke-making. Batting at no. 5, he took on the opposition bowlers, also hitting 31 runs off a single Mohit Sharma over.

After a shaky start to their campaign, the Delhi side has shown some good performances, which has brought them into contention to qualify for the playoffs. The 2020 finalists will be aiming for a victory in their upcoming match against the five-time champions, Mumbai.