Abishek Porel is set to be signed up by Delhi Capitals as the replacement for the injured Rishabh Pant for the IPL 2023.
Two days out from the start of the IPL 2023, the Capitals have zeroed in on Abishek Porel after trying out 4 wicket-keeper batters in the nets under the observation of Head coach Ricky Ponting and Sourav Ganguly, the Director of Cricket for DC.
Abishek Porel, Sheldon Jackson, Luvnith Sisodia, and Vivek Singh were put through a series of match simulation exercises and monitored by Ganguly and Ponting in the DC preparatory camp ahead of the tournament.
Who is Abishek Porel, the replacement of Rishabh Pant?
Abishek Porel is a 20-year-old keeper-batsman from Bengal.
Abishek Porel was part of the India Under-19 squad that won the 2022 U-19 World Cup in West Indies last year. He was the backup wicket-keeper to Dinesh Bana and didn’t get to play in the tournament.
Abishek Porel domestic career:
Porel made his domestic debut for Bengal in all 3 formats in 2022. He had a full season with Bengal where he impressed with his glovework, although couldn’t do much with the bat.
In 16 first-class matches, the left-hander averaged 30, notching up 6 fifties in 26 innings and showing great signs for the future. In white-ball cricket, he hit a fifty on his maiden innings in List-A cricket, and featured in 3 T20 matches, scoring 22 runs with a best of 20*, for Bengal
Abishek has also played for Durgapur Dazzlers in the Bengal T20 Challenge tournament, helping the side reach the final.
Who will be Delhi Capitals’ wicket-keeper in IPL 2023?
Sarfaraz Khan is set to do the wicket-keeping duties for Delhi Capitals after Rishabh Pant was ruled out.
According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, the Delhi Capitals team management had indicated as early as in January to Sarfaraz to be ready for the wicketkeeper’s role after Pant was injured in his car crash in late December. Sarfaraz Khan donned the gloves for Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s. He also helped Mumbai win the SMAT with his knock of 36* runs in the final against Himachal Pradesh.
Porel is picked up as the backup for Sarfaraz. Phil Salt is another option that DC has, but getting him into the XI is a tough task.
