Rishabh Pant is assured of enjoying your entire IPL however the flamboyant cricketer might solely be obtainable as a batter and never behind the stumps, in response to Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting.
Pant was concerned in a life-threatening automotive accident in December 2022 that compelled him to bear ligament reconstruction surgical procedures.
“Rishabh could be very assured that he’ll be proper to play. In what capability we’re not fairly positive but,” was quoted as saying by ‘ESPNCricinfo’.
“You’d have seen all of the social-media stuff, he is up and about and operating properly. However in saying that, we’re solely six weeks away from the primary recreation as properly. So, we’re unsure if we’ll get wicketkeeping out of him this yr.”
“We’ll simply hold our fingers crossed and hope that he could be on the market and play. Even when it is not all of the video games, if we are able to handle him via 10 of the 14 video games or no matter that may be then no matter video games you will get out of him might be a bonus.”
In case Pant isn’t in a position to fulfil wicketkeeping duties, the 26-year-old might play as a pure batter or may very well be used as an Influence Participant within the upcoming IPL, anticipated to start in March.
“However I will assure if I requested him now he’ll say, ‘I am enjoying each recreation, I am maintaining each recreation and I am batting at No.4.’ That is simply what he is like, however we’ll hold our fingers crossed.
“He is such a dynamic participant. He is clearly our captain. We missed him extremely final yr. If you happen to perceive the journey, he is been on the final 12-13 months, it was a horrific incident. One which I do know he feels very fortunate to have even survived, not to mention have the possibility to play cricket once more.”
Warner to guide if Pant unavailable
David Warner led the Capitals final season and Ponting confirmed that star Australian batter can be captain if Pant is unavailable to do the job.
The franchise picked up younger England batter Harry Brook for Rs 4 crore on the public sale final yr. Whereas Ponting is blissful along with his squad, the two-time World Cup profitable captain acknowledged the staff has underperformed previously two seasons.
“With Harry Brook coming into the set-up as properly, so Warner, [Mitch] Marsh, Harry Brook, we have some actually good abroad batters,” Ponting stated.
“Marsh and Warner will bat up the highest someplace and Harry Brook has been ending off with England, so he’ll in all probability play a ending position for us there.
“[If] we are able to get [Anrich] Nortje and Jhye Richardson match, and with the 2 spin choices we have with Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, we have a extremely good squad that, to be truthful, has in all probability underperformed the final couple of years, so we have some work to do.”
The Capitals had completed fifth in 2022 and ninth final season.
