Pant makes return as Kings beat Capitals in IPL

India and Mumbai Indians wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant made 18 runs off 13 balls during his first appearance since December 2022, when he was in a major car accident

Rishabh Pant made his return from a 14-month absence in the Delhi Capitals' defeat by the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League.

In response, England all-rounder Sam Curran scored 63 runs for Kings to seal victory.

Pant scored 18 runs for the Capitals in his first game since being in a serious car accident in December 2022.

Curran played alongside England colleagues Liam Livingstone and Jonny Bairstow for the Kings.

Much of the story for the Capitals was their inability to turn good starts into big scores. Australia openers David Warner (29) and Mitchell Marsh (20) both showed some promise, with Hope's 33 the best for Capitals.

Wicketkeeper Pant's return saw him bat fourth for Capitals. It was a slow start for the 26-year-old Capitals captain - who had suffered head, back and leg injuries in the accident - but he did go on to make 18 runs off 13 deliveries before being caught off the bowling of Harshal Patel.

Capitals lost wickets in the middle order quickly and fell from 111-4 to 147-8 at the back end of their innings but a 32-run cameo from impact substitute Abishek Porel, including 25 runs in the final over, set the Kings 175 to chase.

In response, Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan managed 22 runs before being bowled by the experienced Ishant Sharma. Fellow opener Bairstow fell for nine off three balls, being run out at the non-striker end by Ishant after getting a finger to the ball on his follow through.

The Kings regrouped after losing both openers in the fourth over to fall to 42-2. Prabhsimran Singh hit five fours in a quick-fire 26.

England duo Curran and Livingstone took charge for the Kings. Curran bought up a half century, his fourth in IPL cricket, off 39 balls and with Livingstone (38), put on a 67-run fifth-wicket partnership off 42 balls to leave the Kings needing eight runs off the final nine balls.

After Curran was bowled by Khaleel Ahmed, Kings limped over the line. Khaleel dismissed Shashank Singh a ball after removing Curran and the final ball of the penultimate over saw Warner drop Harpreet Brar on zero, leaving the Kings 169-6, needing six to win off the final over.

On his Capitals debut, Sumit Kumar was handed the ball for the final over. It started with two wides before Livingstone hit a six off the second legal delivery of the over to clinch victory.

Punjab Kings all-rounder Liam Livingstone: "I thought we did a lot well actually. Our spinners dragged it back really well and the seamers. We adapted really to the conditions, the pitch got better as the lights came on. A really good start."

• IPL 2024: Preview, fixtures, schedule, teams & how to follow on the BBC
• Quiz: Name every England player to have played in IPL
• TMS podcast: The IPL preview
• Stumped podcast: IPL - scouting India's next star

Listen to commentary on Kolkata Knight Riders v Sunrisers Hyderabad (14:00 GMT) on Saturday, 23 March on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sport website and app