India's wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is gearing up for a return to competitive cricket following severe injuries sustained in a car crash in December 2022.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the 26-year-old is set to join Delhi Capitals for IPL 2024 and lead the team. It's anticipated that he'll be fully recovered by the end of February.
There's uncertainty regarding his role, whether he'll play as a wicketkeeper-batter or solely as a specialist batter. Nonetheless, the Capitals seem content to have Pant as both captain and batter.
The first indication of Pant's potential IPL comeback emerged in November when he participated in a Capitals camp in Kolkata. This gathering involved senior franchise personnel like Sourav Ganguly (director of cricket), Ricky Ponting (head coach), and Pravin Amre (assistant coach). Subsequently, Pant engaged in discussions about player retention and release before the upcoming auction in Dubai on December 19, as well as initial auction plans.
Pant was sidelined from cricket throughout 2023 due to the serious injury to all three major ligaments in his right knee from the accident. Since then, he's undergone successful reconstructive surgeries and has been undergoing rehabilitation at BCCI's National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Recent videos posted by Pant suggest positive progress in his recovery.
While he has resumed batting, confirmation is pending on whether he's resumed wicket-keeping duties.
The BCCI hasn't provided an official update on Pant since July, when they mentioned his "significant progress in his rehabilitation and has commenced batting as well as keeping in the nets".
If Pant receives clearance from the NCA by February, as anticipated by the franchise, the IPL will mark his return to competitive cricket since the Bangladesh tour in late 2022.
- Rishabh Pant