IPL 2020: Murali Kartik and Kevin Pietersen divided over Rishabh Pant’s run-out against RR

Rishabh Pant hasn’t scored a half-century in the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). But with scores in the 30s and 40s, the left-hander has managed to play some vital knocks for the Delhi Capitals (DC), led by Shreyas Iyer, in the tournament. However, on Friday, October 9, playing against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, he didn’t have the greatest of times.

He came to bat after the Capitals lost Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw inside the first five overs. And in the 10th over, Pant had to walk back to the pavilion. In the third ball of the over, Marcus Stoinis patted one down the ground and set off for a quick single. However, midway, he backed off, realising that substitute fielder Manan Vohra was in a good position to throw.

Rishabh Pant gets run-out
But Pant had come a long way down and found himself in trouble. Vohra speared in the throw and bowler Rahul Tewatia took off the bails at the non-striker’s end with no trouble whatsoever. Pant perished after scoring five off nine and it was the fourth Capitals’ wicket to go down.

Pant 😂 pic.twitter.com/JhUro5aPnz

— ︎ ︎ (@PrabhasRulz) October 9, 2020

In the meantime, the commentary box was divided over the left-hander’s dismissal. Former Indian cricketer Murali Kartik reckoned that Pant did nothing, but oblige to Stoinis’ call for a single. “He was on the non-striker’s end, he was just responding to his partner’s call,” Kartik said.

Nevertheless, former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen was of the opinion that Pant was solely responsible for his dismissal. “You are always responsible for protecting your own wicket,” Pietersen replied.

“I have no idea what was going on there!” Pietersen added after the end of the innings. Even Simon Doull, the veteran New Zealand fast bowler, echoed Pietersen’s words.

As far as the match goes, the run-out didn’t cost DC, who went on to win the game by 46 runs and moved to the top of the points table. On the backs of cameos from Stoinis and Shimron Hetmyer, the Capitals racked up 184 on the board. In their run-chase, the Royals were bowled out for 138 in 19.4 overs. For DC, Ravi Ashwin became the Player of the Match.