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NEW DELHI: As the team bus of Delhi Capitals entered the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium, all eyes were on Rishabh Pant - eager to see how the youngster had taken the setback of not getting picked in India's 15-member World Cup squad. Thursday's match between the Capitals and Mumbai Indians will be Pant's first game after the announcement of the World Cup team.IPL POINTS TABLEThe normally cheerful Pant had a serious expression on his face. Donning a floppy hat, the 21-year-old waited for his turn to bat at the nets. And when his turn came, Pant started middling the ball immediately. There were some rasping straight drives that missed a motley group of eager photographers who were there to capture Delhi's practice session.It seemed Pant was determined to prove the naysayers - who have often accused him for throwing away his wicket - wrong. The youngster was a model of concentration. He batted for nearly an hour, the quintessential big shots coming in a lot later.Nets over, Pant got to know that he had been named among the standbys for the World Cup. The news didn't evoke any reaction. He doesn't want to live in an unreal world. He wants to stay in the present.Delhi Capitals head coach, Ricky Ponting, later said that was hopeful Pant would channelizes the rejection into something substantial for the franchise. "I actually think him (Rishabh) missing out… you will see a different player in the ongoing IPL . His determination will shine through and I am sure he will score heavily in the back half of the tournament," Ponting said at the pre-match press conference.Delhi Capitals are on a three-match winning streak - that too on the road - and are in the second spot on the table with 10 points. They now return to the Kotla whose pitch had copped a lot of flak, especially from Ponting. The Aussie had described the pitch, after Delhi lost to Sunrisers in their previous home game, as " by far the worst" here.Ponting stated that the wicket against Sunrisers "caught the team a bit off guard" as they expected it to play better. That said, Ponting is now confident that his team has "adjusted" to the Kotla track and the opposition will have a tough time on a slow and low pitch.Mumbai Indians also have 10 points. They won two of their last three matches at home and will be on the road for the next four games. Hardik Pandya has been the talisman for MI in their campaign so far. The all-rounder has smashed runs at a strike rate of 191.75, which is second only to Andre Russell (213.69). Pandya's runs have come in match-winning causes. He has not only thrashed the spinners, but has successfully targeted the quick bowlers too.Eyes, however, would also be on the weather. There is a prediction of rain in the Capital on Thursday - the timing of which will be a concern for the two teams.