Pant is confident for comeback to T20 World Cup: Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting stated that Rishabh Pant is on preparation for a complete comeback to the Indian Premier League (IPL), several months before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Rishabh Pant a crucial player in the Indian team, was absent from international and domestic cricket following injuries sustained in a serious car accident in December 2022. He is absent from international tournaments for India, including the ICC World Test Championship Final and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023.
After a challenging journey to recovery, Pant expressed his confidence in regaining full fitness and playing a significant role in the upcoming season of the IPL 2024. This T20 tournament will serve as the final platform for selecting Indian players for T20 World Cup before the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.
Pant is confident for comeback to T20 World Cup
Ponting said to reporters in Melbourne,
“Rishabh Pant is very confident that he’s going to be right to play.”
“In what capacity, we’re not quite sure yet. You would have seen all the social media stuff, he’s up and about and running well.”
“But, in saying that we’re only six weeks away from the first game as well. So, we’re not sure if we’ll get wicketkeeping out of him this year. I’ll guarantee if I asked him now, he’ll say, ‘I’m playing every game, I’m keeping every game and I’m batting at No.4.'”
“Getting any contribution from Pant would be a bonus for the Capitals. ”
“That’s just what he’s like, but we’ll keep our fingers crossed. He’s obviously our captain. We missed him incredibly last year.”
“If you understand the journey, he’s been on the last 12-13 months, it was a horrific incident. One that I know he feels very lucky to have even survived, let alone have the chance to play cricket again.”
“We’ll just keep our fingers crossed and hope that he can be out there and play. Even if it’s not all the games, if we can manage him through 10 of the 14 games or whatever that might be then whatever games you can get out of him will be a bonus.”
Pant’s successful performance in the IPL will serve as a crucial test for him before a potential return to the Indian national team. The Indian management will be hopeful that the player can make valuable contributions to the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.
The upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is scheduled to occur from June 1st to June 29th, with India started their campaign against Ireland on June 5th, 2024.
Former Indian wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel stated that if Rishabh Pant is fit and comeback in form during IPL 2024, he will likely be the top contender for the wicketkeeper’s role at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Parthiv anticipated, Pant comeback in the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League for the Delhi Capitals. Parthiv, speaking to broadcasters on Sports 18, endorsed Pant’s candidacy to secure his spot as India’s wicketkeeper-batter for the T20 World Cup.
Parthiv said, “If Pant comes back and is fit enough and just plays the full IPL, I think all the other 4 wicketkeepers will stay in the waiting list. Rishabh Pant would automatically become the No. 1 choice. He (Pant) brings in a lot of flare, the way he has played in the last couple of years. It was an unfortunate accident, otherwise he (Pant) would have been a certain in this format.”
The other contenders for the wicketkeeper position in the T20 World Cup include KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma, and Ishan Kishan.
Former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan believes that selectors are unlikely to favor Pant even if he performs well in the IPL upon his return. He said, “If you see Rishabh Pant’s journey, the turn he has gone through is not easy for any player. Firstly, everyone who is attached to cricket will be happy once he comes back on the field. He has a lot of hurdles to cross.”
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