NEW DELHI: In a spectacular display of batting prowess, skipper Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel orchestrated a scintillating century partnership, propelling Delhi Capitals to a formidable total of 224 for 4 against Gujarat Titans in the IPL showdown.

After a shaky start at 44 for 3 in 6 overs, Pant and Axar showcased remarkable resilience and aggression, stitching together a blistering 113-run stand off just 68 balls for the fourth wicket.


While Pant dazzled with an unbeaten 88 from 43 deliveries, embellished with five fours and a staggering eight sixes, Axar contributed a dynamic 66 off 43 balls, embellished with five boundaries and four maximums. Their electrifying performance turned the tide of the match and set a daunting target for the opposition.

Rishabh Pant's onslaught continued as he capitalized on anything pitched on his legs, effortlessly dispatching Mohit Sharma for a towering six over midwicket in the 16th over.

Undeterred, he followed up with another emphatic strike, clobbering Mohit over long-off to boost Delhi Capitals' run rate. Axar Patel mirrored his skipper's aggression, launching Noor for consecutive massive sixes in the 17th over.

However, Axar's aggressive intent proved costly as he fell in the quest for another big shot, caught by Sai Kishore at long-on. Pant, meanwhile, reached his fifty with a commanding hit over the long-on fence off Mohit.

Tristan Stubbs' brisk cameo and Pant's late blitz in the final over propelled DC past the 200-run mark, with Pant's astonishing assault on Mohit yielding a staggering 31 runs, comprising four sixes and one four.

(With PTI inputs)