With less than two weeks before the start of the IPL 2024 season, the Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting provides a major update on the WK-Batter Rishabh Pant’s return for the tournament.
Will Rishabh Pant play in IPL 2024?
The Wk-Batter Rishabh Pant met with a car accident in December 2022 and has been out of a cricketing career since then. After a long absence from the game, Pant has been expected to play in the upcoming IPL 2024 tournament.
Rishabh Pant has already completed his recovery progress and was seen in a practicing session alongside Hardik Pandya at the National Cricket Academy.
Despite the player providing his recovery updates through social media, it was doubtful whether he would be fit to play in IPL 2024. On this occasion, the Delhi Capitals Head Coach Ricky Ponting has provided a major update on the player’s return.
While speaking with Sanjana Ganeshan on the latest episode of the ICC review, Ponting said that Rishabh Pant will be captaining the side if he is fit enough.
“It’s a big decision we’ll have to make because if he is fit, you’d think he’d step straight back into that captaincy role,” Ponting said.
“If he’s not entirely fit and we have to use him in a slightly different role, then we’ve got some decisions to make there.”
Ponting revealed that Pant has been working hard for his return to the game. When asked if Pant would be ready for the first IPL match, Ponting revealed that NCA had been given a match-ready certificate last week.
“He’s actually played some practice matches over the last couple of weeks, which has been really encouraging for us,” Ponting said.
“I know he’s worked incredibly hard on his body and his fitness to get back to the level that he’s at now. He’s kept in one of those games, he’s fielded in these games and the batting hasn’t seemingly been an issue for him so far.
“We’ve obviously had worries and concerns that he might not have made it in time to be ready for the IPL this year. I mean, he was a huge loss for us last year and what he went through, we can’t even begin to describe what he’s been through the last 12 or 14 months.”
Ponting added that he was expecting Pant to play in the upcoming season. “I’m very hopeful, not from a selfish point of view as the coach of the Delhi Capitals, but I want to see him back playing cricket again.
“I think the whole world wants to see him back playing cricket again and just playing with that youthful exuberance that he has. If he does that, then I know he’ll win some games for Delhi and we’ll have a good time along the way this season.”
“Knowing Rishabh, it probably won’t (take time to adjust) because he’s such a natural talent and just knowing the sort of person that he is, I don’t think he’ll be awed,” Ponting said.
“I don’t think he’ll be scared by the comeback. The fact that he’s missed 15 months of cricket, I don’t think it’ll faze him too much.
“I think he’ll just go out there and certainly, that’s my job anyway – I’ll be telling him to go back out and play the way that he’s always played and I think if he does that, I think the game will come back to him a bit quicker.”
“If he goes out there and tries to find his way and get back into the groove, I think it might take him a little bit longer.”
“But at the end of the day, that’s what these practice games now have been for, that’s what the camp has been for, for us to get his skills and his mindset back into a place where he can just go out and play the way that he’s always played,” he concluded.
During his absence in IPL 2023, David Warner led the side to complete the campaign in 9th spot among 10 teams. Delhi suffered with batting collapses in the previous season. With the return of Rishabh Pant, the line-up will be provided with a significant boost.
The 17th edition of the IPL 2024 is set to begin on March 22 with CSK and RCB playing in the first match at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
Delhi Capitals will be playing their first match against Punjab Kings on March 23 at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.
