Mumbai: Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is set to return to professional cricket with Delhi Capitals as Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday declared him a 100 percent fit for the Indian Premier League 2024.
“After undergoing an extensive 14-month rehab and recovery process, following a life-threatening road mishap on December 30th, 2022, @RishabhPant17 has now been declared fit as a wicket-keeper batter for the upcoming #TATA @IPL 2024,” the BCCI posted on X.
Fans can expect to see him in action as DC kicks off their IPL season against the Punjab Kings on March 23 in Mohali.
The cricketer had to sit out after surviving a harrowing car accident in December 2022. He, however, has been steadily advancing since his surgery in the first half of 2023, and his return, starting from the scratch, is poised to be more impactful than ever before. For the better part of last year, he demonstrated swift development, with noticeable results evident as he consistently participated in occasional net sessions.
Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting and director Sourav Ganguly kept the excitement alive on the topic of Pant’s comeback by consistently offering encouraging updates about his impending return, perfectly timed for the IPL 2024 season.
Parth Jindal, the co-owner of the Delhi Capitals, had said that Pant will play as a batter but added that they will take a call for the rest of the IPL ‘depending on how his body reacts.’
The official update indicates that Pant will resume his dual role of batting and keeping wickets. However, it’s doubtful whether Delhi Capitals will require Pant, who is returning as their captain, to endure this routine throughout the entire season. This marks Pant’s first appearance in top-flight cricket in 15 months, and consequently, pushing him to his physical limits may not be in the best interest of the DC.
In the past month, Pant initiated simulation exercises in Bengaluru, culminating in his participation in a 20-over exhibition match in Alur. Under the attentive supervision of the NCA staff, Pant confidently struck one-handed sixes without experiencing any discomfort. While there was uncertainty regarding his wicket-keeping abilities, today’s update assures that any concerns in this regard have been dispelled.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah on Monday, said that “if Pant can fulfil the wicket-keeping duties, he will secure a spot in the World Cup squad.”
With Pant demonstrating his ability in this aspect, the 26-year-old is now almost assured to be included in the team heading to the West Indies and the USA. The announcement of India’s squad for the T20 World Cup, commencing on June 1, is anticipated in the first week of May.
