Delhi Capitals Without Rishabh Pant for Crucial Match Against RCB

In their crucial encounter on Sunday against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the Delhi Capitals are already down one wicket before a ball has been bowled.

Rishabh Pant, the captain of Delhi, will miss the match due to his one-match suspension for the third time this IPL season for continuing to maintain a sluggish over-rate.

In addition, Pant was fined Rs 30 lakh for violating the code of conduct on May 7, when Delhi defeated the Rajasthan Royals by 20 runs.

In a last-ditch effort, Delhi submitted an appeal against the Match Referee's decision, and it was forwarded to the BCCI Ombudsman to review. After holding a virtual hearing, the Ombudsman declared that the Match Referee's judgment was conclusive and legally binding.

Delhi, who are now on 12 points, will undoubtedly feel the impact of Pant's absence as they attempt to secure a postseason berth. This is wonderful news for RCB on 10 points, especially because the keeper-batter has been playing well in the IPL.

On the eve of the game, head coach Ricky Ponting ensured that Delhi would maintain their composure. In lieu of Pant, all-rounder Axar Patel will captain the team against RCB.

"Our captain for tomorrow (Saturday) will be Axar Patel. It's clear that he has served as vice captain for the past few campaigns. He is a really skilled international and IPL player with a deep understanding of the game. He constantly participates in the game and is really enthusiastic about it, according to Ponting.

Ponting stated that the team was prepared for the grind even if he acknowledged that Pant's absence from an important game was a major loss. "Rishabh isn't present. Among the top players in this specific IPL, you know. He is, in my opinion, our top run scorer, therefore losing him would be a loss for us. However, he added, it's also a fantastic challenge for everyone else.

Who steps in for Pant in the starting lineup is still unknown. The availability of David Warner, who was wounded, remained unclear.

It's a fantastic chance for RCB, who have won four straight games and are riding high in the rankings. In actuality, they cannot afford to lose. The home squad would be confident of defeating the inferior Delhi thanks to the form of Virat Kohli and other players like Rajat Patidar. For them, the bowlers have also recently shown discipline.

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