Rishabh Pant will be back in his team Delhi Capitals in IPL’s first match against Punjab Kings in Chandigarh.
Indian Premium League will commence on March 22 with the first match between CSK Vs RCB. Although every year fans eagerly wait for the IPL to start, this year will be an exception. Rishabh Pant, the captain of Delhi Capitals will be back on the team after 14 months against Punjab Kings on March 23rd in Chandigarh.
He might be getting an energetic comeback by fans, but the wicket keeper batter’s performance on the field is yet to be deciphered. His comeback after his critical injury back in December 2022, is well appreciated by many alike. Indian allrounder Axar Patel is relieved to see Pant bringing back fun and excitement in the team, ahead of their match against Punjab Kings.
The team has arrived in Chandigarh for their opening match on Saturday. While Pant was in recovery, David Warner was the Captain of DC in 2023 and finally, he is back as the Captain after he got the green signal to keep wickets by BCCI’s fitness and medical team.
This is his first match as a cricketer since his injury back in December 2022. It is a new start for the team, which was previously affected by Pant’s absence in 2023 matches. The atmosphere in the team has been positive with a rekindled spirit and good intense training sessions in Vizag for the matches ahead.
‘’It’s a new season, we are starting afresh,’’ Indian allrounder Axar Patel added. The coaches have decided to keep things simple in the tournament. He said he missed their banter (Pant) a lot throughout last year when asked about Pant’s comeback. Even though the team is happy to have him back, there is also a bit of a tense situation in the team.
For the IPL auction 2024, in December, DC secured Jharkhand’s wicketkeeper batter Kushagra Kumar for Rs 7.2 crore as a backup keeper for Pant. Even though he has been medically approved to play the matches, the team has taken this as a precaution if something goes wrong.
Pant was announced as the Delhi Capitals captain on March 19 after his absence for an entire year due to his accident. Back in December 2022, Pant experienced a life-threatening car crash while he was driving to his hometown Roorke from Delhi.
The accident was so severe that he could have lost his right leg if further serious injury had occurred. He suffered multiple injuries like a ligament tear in his right knee and two cuts on his forehead. Now, in 2024, after three ligament constructions, skin grafts on his thighs, multiple stitches, and months of therapy in rehab at the NCA in Bengaluru, he is back to fill the stadium with a roar.
The batting unit includes Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Mitchell Marsh, and Pant at the top. Re-selected as the captain of the team, is already a big achievement for him after what he has gone through. If Pant’s comeback in the IPL is an assured gift of full recovery, he will surely play in India’s T20 World Cup team.
This for sure will be a challenge to KL Rahul, and Ishan Kishan, if his performance is a promising one in the IPL 2024. Rishabh Pant has worked hard to reach where he is today. Anyone in his spot might have lost hope of ever stepping on the field again. Since January, he has worked vigorously and played a series of practice matches organised by the NCA to get in shape and unleash his competitive spirit.
