Pant on course for comeback in IPL
The southpaw takes part in a practice game organised by his franchise Delhi Capitals in Alur, Karnataka
PTI
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Rishabh Pant, who met with a horrific car accident in December 2022, has been undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy
New Delhi, 20 Feb
Rishabh Pant remains on course for
a much-anticipated comeback in the IPL after taking part in a practice game
organised by his franchise Delhi Capitals in Alur, Karnataka.
Pant, who met with a horrific car
accident in December 2022, has been undergoing rehabilitation at the National
Cricket Academy and is working hard to regain match fitness before the start of
the IPL in the second half of March.
The southpaw had also featured in
an exhibition game last year. "The match was part of assessing his
mobility basically. He has been batting at nets for a while and playing in a
practice game was more like an extension of it," said a NCA source
referring to the intra-squad game in Alur near Bengaluru.
Earlier this month, Delhi Capitals
head coach Ricky Ponting had given a major update on Pant, saying the game-changing
cricketer was confident about his return in the IPL. However, Pant may not be
ready for wicketkeeping duties in the competition, as suggested by Ponting at
an event in Melbourne. "Rishabh is very confident that he's going to be
right to play. In what capacity we're not sure yet," Ponting had said.
"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. But 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.' That's just what he's like, but we'll keep our fingers crossed,"
he added.
Pant is also expected to lead Delhi
Capitals. David Warner had captained in his absence last year. "He's such
a dynamic player. He's obviously our captain. We missed him incredibly last
year," Ponting said. "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," the former Australia captain had said on the sidelines of an MLC
event.
The 26-year-old Pant has played 33
Tests, 30 ODIs and 66 T20s for India.
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