'A Bit Over The Top': BCCI Not Pleased With Delhi Capitals’ Jersey Gesture For Rishabh Pant- Report

Pant was present at the venue for Delhi's first home match of the season against Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

It was apparently head coach Ricky Ponting's suggestion to keep Pant's jersey at the dugout. 

Source : BCCI

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly not pleased with Delhi Capitals' jersey gesture for their regular captain Rishabh Pant in their season opener against Lucknow Super Giants. Notably, in their season opener at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, the Delhi franchise had hung Pant's jersey number 17 on the roof of their dug out as a way to indicate that the southpaw is always with them in the spirit.

However, a report carried by news agency PTI has claimed that the BCCI isn't too happy with that gesture. The Indian Cricket Board however feels that it was "uncalled for".

"It seemed a bit over the top. Such a gesture is reserved in case of ultimate tragedy or retirement. In this case, it was neither. Rishabh is well and truly on his way to recovery faster than one expected. So while it was done with a noble intention, it is learnt that BCCI has politely told the franchise to avoid such gesture in future," an IPL source was quoted by PTI.

The same report claimed that it was head coach Ricky Ponting's suggestion to keep Pant's jersey at the dugout. 

In addition, it is being learnt that during one game later in the season each player of the franchise will wear Pant's jersey number. 

"Every season, DC wears a different jersey during one particular game. In that game, everyone will have Pant's jersey number inscribed on their jerseys. However there is specific rule for logo and it will be a small inscription in one corner," the IPL source said as claimed in the same report.

Pant was present at the venue for Delhi's first home match of the season against Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium but it made no difference to their fate as the David Warner-led team lost their second game in a row after losing the opening match to Lucknow Super Giants by 50 runs. 

They lost their second match by 6 wickets and 11 balls to spare.