After Kohli, Pant also scored a half-centuryImage Credit source: PTI

In the first two matches of Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025, two veterans of Team India attracted the most discussion. On one hand, Virat Kohli played big innings in both the matches, showing his bat skills, while on the other hand, Rohit Sharma, after doing wonders in the first match, disappointed in the second match. Anyway, most of the eyes were on these two scoundrels. But apart from these, if this tournament is important for any one player then it is Delhi captain Rishabh Pant. It was necessary for Pant, who was trying to save his place in Team India, to give a strong performance here and finally this star wicketkeeper-batsman strengthened his claim by playing an important innings.

Pant's half-century after a bad start

The start of this tournament was not good for Pant and in the first match he was out after scoring only 5 runs. In such a situation, the importance of this second match had increased and the star wicketkeeper did not waste it. Where in the match against Gujarat Virat Kohli While played a strong innings for Delhi, other batsmen could not do anything special. At such a time, it was the responsibility of captain Pant to play such an innings that the team could reach a competitive score and the Delhi captain did not disappoint.

Pant, who came to bat at number five, single-handedly handled the faltering innings and took the team beyond 200 runs. During this, Pant also completed his half-century. Pant also made a partnership of 70 runs for the sixth wicket. However, like Virat, Rishabh Pant also could not complete his century and was out after scoring 70 runs in 79 balls. In this innings, Pant hit 8 fours and 2 sixes. Apart from the innings of Kohli and Pant, Harsh Tyagi also played an inning of 40 runs and the team somehow managed to reach 254 runs.

Will Pant's place be saved in Team India?

Rishabh Pant has been made the captain of Delhi team in this tournament. As important as this responsibility is for Pant, this tournament is equally important because he has already been dropped from the Indian T20 team, while he remains out of the playing-11 of the ODI team and now his place in the squad is also in danger. In such a situation, only a good performance here can get him a place in any future ODI series. Now all eyes are on whether this innings can give confidence to the selectors or Ishan Kishan's form and return to Team India will become a threat to Pant. This will be known in the next few days, when the team for the ODI series against New Zealand will be announced.