Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant made a strong comeback to competitive cricket with a quickfire 13-ball 18 for Delhi Capitals against Punjab Kings at the Maharaha Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. Rishabh received a huge round of applause as he walked in to bat after a long wait of 453 days.
Pant’s innings showcased his fluent strokeplay, including two well-timed boundaries, before he was dismissed by Harshal Patel.
During the toss, Pant expressed his emotions, stating, “Really emotional time for me. Just want to enjoy the moment. Not thinking much. I think not worried about last season. Really exciting times. We have been preparing well.”
Rishabh Pant receives rousing reception
Pant’s return to action is significant, considering he had not played since India‘s Test series in Bangladesh in December 2022, following a car crash in the same month. Despite the long break, Pant seemed at ease at the crease, even attempting a reverse sweep early in his innings. His running between the wickets was sharp, evident from the two doubles he added in Harshal Patel’s over.
Rishabh Pant, the captain of Delhi Capitals, has been diligently working on his rehabilitation to regain confidence in his body following a serious accident that kept him out of action for 14 months. The accident, which occurred in December 2022, led to a lengthy recovery period and forced him to miss the previous IPL season.
Pant’s return will be a significant boost for Delhi Capitals as they look to make a strong start to the IPL 2024 season. His form and fitness will be crucial for the team’s success, and his performance in this match indicates a promising return to competitive cricket.
Ricky Ponting and Ganguly talks about Rishabh Pant comeback
According to Ricky Ponting, the head coach of Delhi Capitals, Pant has been batting more than ever in the last week to rebuild trust in his body. Pant’s approach at the pre-season camp has been focused on playing all the shots he is known for, indicating his determination to return to full form. Despite the challenges he has faced, Pant has maintained a positive attitude, which has been inspiring to his teammates.
“He (Pant) has probably batted more in the last week than he has ever batted leading into most of the IPLs. I think from his point of view, he wants to get a bit of trust back in his body again,” said Ponting on the skipper’s approach at the pre-season camp. “He has been putting himself through a few different paces and playing all the shots that he plays. He has been great, and more importantly, he has got a smile on his face, which is what all we love to see,” added the former Australian captain.
Sourav Ganguly, the director of cricket at Delhi Capitals, praised Pant’s energy and unconventional style of play, noting that these qualities are reflected in his captaincy as well. Ganguly expressed confidence in Pant’s abilities and hoped for a successful season for him, both with Delhi Capitals and potentially for India in the future.
“He is not the conservative type of batter, so you expect that character in his captaincy. Nobody comes as a ready-made captain. You learn as you go and I think captaincy is by instinct. I’m looking forward to watching him during the tournament,” said Ganguly.
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, and Instagram
