Rohit Sharma backs Rishabh Pant after DC’s IPL 2022 exit

Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma has defended Rishabh Pant for a blunder during their final group stage match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 played at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on May 21 (Saturday)

To note, MI’s foreign batter Tim David edged the first ball of his innings, but the on-field umpire did not rule the decision in DC’s favour. Despite being persuaded by his teammates, DC skipper Pant did not take the review. The replays then showed a faint edge that neither Pant nor the on-field umpire spotted.

As DC gave a reprieve to David, he made them pay as he smashed 34 runs off just 11 balls with the help of two fours and four maximums to take the game out of DC’s grasp. As a result, the strong-looking Capital side was knocked out of the tournament and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) became the fourth and final team to qualify for the playoffs of IPL 2022.

‘He is a quality captain, there is no doubt about it’ – Rohit lauds Pant’s leadership skills

“He is a quality captain, there’s no doubt about it. In the past seasons, we have seen how he has led his team. Sometimes things don’t go your way. It is as simple as that,” Rohit said in the post-match presentation.“I have been through this kind of situation before and I was just telling him about the same thing. These kinds of things happen on the ground, sometimes it just doesn’t go your way. So, there is nothing wrong with it,” he added.

Meanwhile, the final group stage match of the IPL 2022 will be played between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. After the group stage matches, the focus will shift to the playoffs with Gujarat Titans taking on the Rajasthan Royals in the first Qualifier, which will be followed by the Eliminator clash between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).