Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant is expected to return to competitive cricket in the next Indian Premier League (IPL) season for the Delhi Capitals. Pant has been sidelined since a serious car accident on the Delhi-Dehradun highway on December 1, 2023.
Rishabh Pant is all set to make a comeback in IPL 2024
Rishabh Pant sustained injuries to his hand, head, knee, and back in a car accident. The 29-year-old was initially taken to a nearby hospital before being transferred to Max Hospital in Dehradun. Later, he was airlifted to Mumbai for knee surgery at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.
Pant underwent rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and showed significant progress in his recovery. The Delhi Capitals skipper kept fans informed about his rehabilitation journey through social media updates. Recently, Pant shared a video on Instagram showing him running at the NCA, indicating his imminent return to competitive cricket.
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According to a report by Cricbuzz, Rishabh Pant has made considerable progress in his recovery following the car accident, suggesting a potential comeback to competitive cricket in IPL 2024 for Delhi Capitals. The report mentioned that the Delhi-born batsman has been participating in warm-up matches in Alur, near Bengaluru, as part of his preparation for returning to action after more than a year on the sidelines.
Rishabh won’t be wicketkeeping in IPL 2024
According to the report, Rishabh Pant is set to return to the IPL as a batter and captain for Delhi Capitals. The team management is expected to select a designated wicketkeeper for the entire IPL 2024 season.
In Rishabh Pant’s absence, Abhishek Porel and Sarfaraz Khan handled wicketkeeping duties for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2023. Pant’s comeback in IPL 2024 will greatly benefit the team, especially after their ninth-place finish last season under David Warner’s captaincy. Sources from BCCI and Delhi Capitals affirmed that Pant is displaying the same agility and freedom in his movements as before his car accident in January 2023, which sidelined him for 15 months.
