Delhi Capitals squad will kickstart their lives without their regular captain Rishabh Pant as they begin their campaign for the 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League in a match against Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday. With Rishabh ruled out of the tournament, Australia’s star batter David Warner will lead the Delhi-based franchise this year.
Rishabh was appointed as the captain of DC for IPL 2021 and guided the team to finish as the table-toppers in the league stage. However, they failed to reach the final of the tournament, losing the Qualifier 2 round to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Last year, DC had an average campaign and failed to make the playoffs, having won only 14 matches and finishing 5th in the standings.
DDCA Is Planing Special Arrangements For Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant is currently recovering from multiple injuries that he sustained in a car accident last year. While he is away from all the cricketing actions on-field, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) wants him to be a part of the dugout this season.
The DDCA is prepared to host Rishabh at the Arun Jaitley Stadium for his team’s home matches during the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The DDCA director, Shyam Sharma, stated that they are ready to host Pant at the ground if he feels comfortable and if the Delhi Capitals allow it.
Sharma said that they will take care of everything for the star batter, including transportation to and from the stadium, and they will create a special ramp for his easy access to the dugout.
Ricky Ponting Wants To Make Pant A Part Of IPL 2023
Earlier, Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting had expressed his desire to have Pant at the dugout for all home games. Ponting claimed that Pant will always be the leader of the Delhi side, even if he is not playing the season. He also revealed his wish to make part of the team in any possible way, such as by having his number on their shirts or caps. He had said:
“In an ideal world for me, he’d be sitting next to me in the dugout every match. But if that’s not possible, we’d like to make him part of the team in ways possible. We can have his number on our shirts or on caps. Just to make it clear that he’s our leader, even if he’s not with us,” Ricky Ponting said.
“He is the heart and soul of the Delhi Capitals, he is a Delhi boy, he is our leader,” Ponting said.
“I have spoken to Rishabh Pant in the last few months. Also have tried to give him his own time and space. Obviously, it’s a very, very difficult time that he is going through right now. It is going to be a long recovery, a long way back to playing, hopefully, international cricket again,” the Delhi Capitals coach added.
