"He's worked incredibly hard on his body and his fitness" - Ricky Ponting on Rishabh Pant

Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting has given the latest update on Rishabh Pant and his fitness before the Indian Premier League 2024. While speaking on the ICC Review, Ponting said that Rishabh Pant has started wicketkeeping at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru as well.

Notably, this is going to be a huge boost for the Delhi Capitals and India fans who were eagerly waiting to see him in action. However, Rishabh Pant has not played any form of cricket since his near-fatal accident in December 2022 as well. Pant had a horrific car accident while driving alone from New Delhi to Roorkee and he had to undergo surgeries and rehab in the past 15 months as well.

Rishabh Pant Has Started Keeping: Ricky Ponting

“It’s a big decision we’ll have to make because if he is fit, you’d think he’d step straight back into that captaincy role,” Ponting said. “If he’s not entirely fit and we have to use him in a slightly different role, then we’ve got some decisions to make there,” Ponting further added.

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However, Delhi Capitals play their first IPL match on 23 March. He was asked if Pant would be fit by that time, and Ponting was happy with Rishabh’s progress at the NCA. Meanwhile, sources have also confirmed India Today that Rishabh Pant has been given a match-ready certificate by the NCA in the first week of March.

“He’s actually played some practice matches over the last couple of weeks, which has been really encouraging for us,” Ponting said. “I know he’s worked incredibly hard on his body and his fitness to get back to the level that he’s at now. He’s kept in one of those games, he’s fielded in these games and the batting hasn’t seemingly been an issue for him so far,” Ricky Ponting added.

Rishabh Pant is expected to play a key role for Delhi

“We’ve obviously had worries and concerns that he might not have made it in time to be ready for the IPL this year. I mean, he was a huge loss for us last year and what he went through, we can’t even begin to describe what he’s been through the last 12 or 14 months,” concluded the legendary Australian cricketer.

In Rishabh Pant’s absence in IPL 2023, David Warner led the team but Delhi had a poor season in the previous edition of the league and finished in the 9th spot among 10 teams. Hope this time they will bounce back.