Delhi Capitals are two wickets down for 29 in 3.4 overs. One expects Rishabh Pant to walk down the staircase of the iconic Wankhede Stadium after captain Shreyas Iyer is dismissed, thanks to a brilliant one-handed diving catch by Mumbai Indians' Kieron Pollard off Mitchel McClenaghan.

Instead, Colin Ingram walks in. New Zealand recruit Ingram's entry to the scene is not a surprise, though. Yet, it begged the question, why not Pant?

Does the captain lack faith in his ability to bat long and deep, especially after his poor batting show in the last two ODIs for India against Australia earlier this month? Or is the man himself struggling with confidence to bat at a crucial juncture? Don't forget, it is the No. 4 spot where a vacancy in the World Cup-bound India squad is still open and Pant is one of the contenders for it.

While these and many thoughts might have flashed one's mind but for Pant, it was business as usual in the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League.

The 21-year-old proved that past matters little to him and that his job is to punish the leather and hit the ball as hard as he can.

The result? Once again, Pant emerged the star performer for his team Delhi Capitals as his devastating 27-ball 78 – comprising seven sixes and as many fours – got his team an easy 37-run victory over hosts Mumbai Indians in their IPL opener at the Wankhede Stadium here on Sunday.

Chasing a steep target of 214 was always a difficult ask for hosts Mumbai, especially after their captain Rohit Sharma faltered following a good start.

There were cameos from Keiron Pollard (21) and Krunal Pandya (32), but it was down to one man and their new recruit Yuvraj Singh (53) who kept the hopes alive till the 18th over after the two were dismissed. Once Kagiso Rabada sent Yuvraj back, the total was out of reach and the hosts were restricted to 176/9 in 20 overs.

MI pacer Jasprit Bumrah did not come out to bat after he suffered a shoulder injury in the first innings.

Earlier, after winning the toss , MI captain Rohit put Delhi in to bat. The visitors lost two early wickets till Ingram and a scratchy Shikhar Dhawan steadied the ship with an 83-run partnership for the third wicket.

With Ingram out and Delhi, at 112/3 in 13 overs, needed a special effort from someone to take them to a strong total against a solid Mumbai batting line-up.

And who better than Pant for that job. The southpaw went hammer and tongs, exhibiting his ultra aggressive skills and unorthodox shots.

Pant's first four balls were dots. But once he got his eye in and understood the wicket, he went after the pacers from the next over, with Ben Cutting being his first victim.

His maiden boundary was a walk across the stump to flick Cutting over fine leg. And from thereon, there was no stopping the man. Hardik Pandya, Bumrah and the debutant Rasikh Salam Dar were the victims of Pant's assault.

The youngster brought up his half-century by hitting Bumrah for a boundary after flicking him for a stylish six over backward square leg boundary.

Mumbai did not have any answers to Pant's amazing batting display. But for the man himself, it was just another day in the IPL.

N ZONE

18 No. of balls Rishabh Pant took to get to his half-century, the fewest by any player against Mumbai Indians