Shikhar Dhawan and Rishabh Pant took centre stage as the inaugural edition of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) began at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday, August 17. The star-studded event reflected the close bond between the Delhi cricketers.
Dhawan, known for his aggressive batting and infectious smile, has taken on a new role in the DPL 2024 opener. The veteran Indian cricketer has taken on the role of co-owner of South Delhi Superstars in the DPL.
While Dhawan was busy in his new role off the field, he did not forget to show his support for his fellow Delhi cricketer Pant, who is captaining Purani Dilli 6 in the DPL 2024 opener.
Shikhar Dhawan and Rishabh Pant steal the show at DPL 2024 opener with emotional gesture
The Indian wicket-keeper batsman played a crucial knock of 35 off 32 balls, including four boundaries and a six, helping Purani Dilli 6 post a formidable total of 197/3 in their allotted 20 overs against the South Delhi Superstars in the tournament opener at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Arpit Rana, another standout player with the bat for Purani Dilli 6, closed the innings with a half-century to help his team post a competitive score on the board against South Delhi. Shubham Dubey took two wickets for the South Delhi Superstars in the match.
Chasing the target, South Delhi reached 198/7 in 19.1 overs, thanks to stunning half-centuries from Priyansh Arya (57) and Ayush Badoni (57). Prince Yadav took four wickets for Purani Dilli. Though it was Dhawan’s day for South Delhi, who won the first game of the DPL.
Meanwhile, the highlight of the evening came when Pant was dismissed and returned to the dugout.
At that point, Shikhar, who was in the middle of an interview with the commentators on the sidelines, paused the conversation and warmly hugged Pant.
Here is the viral image of Dhawan hugging Pant:
Rishabh Pant hugged Shikhar Dhawan after being dismissed in the Delhi Premier League. 🫂❤️#RishabhPant #ShikharDhawan #DelhiPremierLeagueT20 #DPLT20 pic.twitter.com/0lcDlNpbgT
– Saabir Zafar (@Saabir_Saabu01) August 17, 2024
The gesture highlighted the camaraderie shared between the two, having played together for the Indian cricket team, the Delhi state team and the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Dhawan’s involvement in the DPL as a co-owner and his on-field gesture towards Pant added an emotional touch to the proceedings, highlighting the strong bonds between the Delhi cricketers.
Now, pictures of Dhawan hugging Pant during the DPL 2024 are all over the internet, with fans praising the heartfelt reunion of the star cricketers.
DPL 2024 kicks off with star-studded opening ceremony
Notably, the opening ceremony of DPL 2024 was a grand affair, with performances by popular faces from the entertainment industry including Sonam Bajwa, Badshah and Sid K thrilling the Delhi crowd before the cricket action began with the clash between South Delhi and Purani Dilli at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday.
The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) also took the opportunity to honour Delhi cricket stars including Pant, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Ishant Sharma and recognise their contributions to the game and state cricket. Ishant is also participating in the DPL 2024 as a leading player.
