Known for his six-hitting prowess, Pant played second fiddle to David Warner (49) in their 67-run stand that steadied Delhi
The result left Sunderland in 17th position on 35 points from 36 games, one point ahead of Newcastle United who have played a game more and did themselves no favours with a 0-0 draw at already relegated Aston Villa.
The home side were skating on thin ice after goals by Diego Costa and Nemanja Matic either side of a ferocious Wahbi Khazri volley gave Chelsea a 2-1 first-half lead in the Stadium of Light.