Rishabh Pant Makes Cricket Comeback In Alur, Set To Lead Delhi Capitals In IPL 2024: Report
New Delhi: Rishabh Pant is set to return to competitive cricket in the upcoming Indian Premier League for Delhi Capitals as a pure batter, according to reports. If fit to play, Pant will lead Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024. Based on a Cricbuzz report, Pant recently played a match in Alur, Bengaluru in a practice game. It was Pant’s first cricket match since his near-fatal accident on December 30, 2022.
Following the accident, Pant underwent several ligament surgeries on his right knee before starting his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. The report also states that Pant’s mobility is not hindered; he can bat and run with the same agility as he used to do before the accident. The Delhi-lad was in London last month for treatment, totally arranged by BCCI.
For someone like Pant, who hasn’t played a cricket match for the past 15 months, rushing him straight into the IPL doesn’t look wise. He must prove his match fitness at domestic cricket before being elevated to the top level. However, the Delhi Capitals franchise are confident of getting Pant in IPL 2024 as a captain. The IPL 2024 starts on March 22, league chairman Arun Dhumal said.
Like last year, Bengal’s Avishek Porel is likely to don the wicketkeeper’s gloves this season too. Australian David Warner had led Delhi Capitals last year in the absence of Pant. Earlier, the southpaw was seen with his franchise during the IPL 2024 auction that was held in Dubai in December last year.
The franchise made some good buys by signing hard-hitting batters like Harry Brook, Tristan Stubbs, Kumar Kushagra and Shai Hope. Australian pacer Jhye Richardson also penned a deal with Delhi Capitals.
Although Dhumal stating IPL 2024’s start date, the fixtures are yet to be announced officially. It is understood that the dates will be finalised following the announcement Lok Sabha election dates by Election Commission of India.
Pant made his IPL debut with Delhi in 2016. Since then, the left-hander has grown in stature and went onto play for India. In fact, his 159 in Sydney in 2021 sealed India’s famous Test series against Australia on Australian soil. In IPL, Pant played 98 matches for Delhi Capitals, scoring 2838 runs so far.
He also has an IPL hundred when he scored 128 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2018 edition.
Delhi Capitals Full Squad For IPL 2024: Rishabh Pant (c), Pravin Dubey, David Warner, Vicky Ostwal, Prithvi Shaw, Anrich Nortje, Abishek Porel, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Lungi Ngidi, Lalit Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Mitchell Marsh, Ishant Sharma, Yash Dhull, Mukesh Kumar, Harry Brook, Tristan Stubbs, Ricky Bhui, Kumar Kushagra, Rasikh Dar, Jhye Richardson, Sumit Kumar, Shai Hope, Swastik Chhikara.