IPL 2023: Delhi Capitals’ Excellent Gesture For ‘13th Man’ Rishabh Pant

Lucknow: Rishabh Pant, an important player and skipper of Delhi Capitals, has been ruled out of IPL 2023.

The swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman, who was involved in a near-fatal car mishap in the early hours of December 30 near Roorkee, will take many more months before he can think of returning to the cricket field.

But Pant is keen on watching some of Delhi Capitals’ home matches at Ferozeshah Kotla.

To make Pant feel that he’s very much with the team in spirit, Delhi Capitals thought of a novel way to keep him close to them.

The team management decided to put up his jersey on top of the dugout as the Capitals played the first match of the season against Lucknow Super Giants at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium in Lucknow on Saturday.

“Always in our dugout. Always in our team ❤️💙,” Delhi Capitals tweeted with a picture of Pant’s jersey.

Netizens were all praise for Delhi Capitals’ gesture as they wished Pant a speedy recovery.

One user put it aptly by saying that Pant is the ‘13th man’ of Delhi Capitals.

The Delhi-based team is eyeing its maiden IPL title. In Pant’s absence, Delhi Capitals are being captained by veteran Australian opener and 2016 IPL-winning captain for Sunrisers Hyderabad David Warner.

Delhi, who finished fifth last year, had their best season in 2020 when they were runners-up to five-time champions Mumbai Indians.