Tendulkar dubs Pant's knock as 'one of the best' in IPL history

Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has described Rishabh Pant's brilliant 43-ball 97-run knock which helped Delhi Daredevils beat Gujarat Lions in their IPL encounter, as "one of the best innings" in tournaments history.

Pant, alongside Sanju Samson (61), helped his team sail to a crushing seven wicket-victory that ended Gujarat Lions' prospects of making it to the qualifiers in the ongoing edition of the IPL.

Delhi made a mockery of a daunting looking 209, thanks to some exquisite power hitting from Pant and Samson that helped them chase down the target in just 17.3 overs here at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Thursday evening.

The Delhi Daredevils southpaw was just brutal in his 43-ball inning as he smashed 9 sixes and 6 fours. Samson was equally destructive as he struck seven sixes in his 31-ball knock.

The duo added 143 off 63 for the second wicket and took the game away from the Suresh Raina led-side.

Lavishing praise on Pant's inning, Tendulkar took to Twitter and said, "One of the best Innings I have seen in the IPL & that includes all 10 seasons. @RishabPant777."

On 97, Pant edged a ball from Basil Thampi and he stood aghast as he missed out on a well deserved century.

This was the second-highest chase in the history of IPL and the result not only kept Delhi Daredevils in the race for a playoff spot, but it also knocked Gujarat Lions out of the tournament.

Delhi, now standing at the sixth spot with eight points from 10 games, will take on Mumbai Indians on Saturday.