After being away from cricket for 15 long months due to injuries from a car accident in December 2022, Rishabh Pant is finally set to make a comeback. He’ll lead the Delhi Capitals in their first match of IPL 2024 against Punjab Kings in Mohali on Saturday.

Pant’s journey back to the field was tough. Doctors had initially told him he’d be away from cricket for quite a while, but Pant’s determination surprised everyone. Despite the setback, he worked hard in rehabilitation and made a swift recovery.

BCCI gives green light for Pant after he passed his fitness tests

Delhi Capitals wasted no time in officially naming him as their captain for this season, replacing Australian David Warner, who led the team in Pant’s absence last year.

DC coach Ricky Ponting has been impressed with Pant’s performance in training sessions. He jokingly mentioned that Pant sometimes gets so engrossed in batting during practice that he has to be pulled out of the nets to prevent exhaustion. Ponting emphasized that Pant’s return strengthens the team, and they missed his presence last season.

Ponting said, “We had a week’s training in Vizag before coming here and trust me Rishabh is back and ready to play. He is batting and moving behind the stumps beautifully. Sometimes he bats too much and I have to drag him out of nets.”

“I’ve seen where his game is at, and don’t be surprised if something special happens tomorrow. His attitude and smile and what he wants to do for the team is infectious. Everyone wants to be like Rishabh.” 

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Ponting praises his strength and team spirit

In short, Pant’s return to competitive cricket after a challenging period of rehabilitation is a testament to his resilience and determination. His leadership and batting prowess will undoubtedly boost the Delhi Capitals’ chances in IPL 2024.

As he also added, “We are about to start an IPL, it’s really an exciting time of the year. It becomes more exciting when your captain is back in your team. Last year, we missed him. He is our leader. He is the heartbeat of this franchise and having him back is going to make this team a lot stronger.”