A top India pacer Ishnat Sharma has made an eye-catching statement about the injured wicketkeeper-batter of the Asian giants at a time when Rishabh Pant is eager to make a quick comeback. In the West Indies series, Rohit Sharma‘s Team India was without vice captain KL Rahul and gloveman Pant, so the Indian think tank gave wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan his first India cap in the first Test.
In the second Test against the West Indies, Kishan, who made his debut in the red-ball series opener alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, blasted his first half-century. On the fourth day of the second Test on Sunday, Kishan reached his first half-century. Power hitter Kishan has not only solidified his position in the Test lineup but also emerged as a leading contender to keep wickets for India in the limited-overs competition.
The injured gloveman may be forced to miss a number of important tournaments as Kishan and KS Bharat compete to replace Pant in the Test team. Pant already missed the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia and the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. The fatal vehicle accident that the 25-year-old survived last year.
In order to deliver a significant health update during India’s Test series against the West Indies, Pant recently posted an internet-breaking video. Ishant Sharma, a veteran Indian pacer, claimed that Pant can miss the 2024 IPL while still recovering from his injury during the second Test match between the two sides.
Ishant Sharma talks about Rishabh Pant
“I feel we might not see Rishabh Pant in the next IPL as well because it is not a small injury. It was a very serious accident. He has just started batting and wicketkeeping and to run and turn after that, there are a lot of things, which is not easy for a wicketkeeper and a batter,” Ishant told Jio Cinema.
Pant would not be making a comeback to the Indian team for the 2023 World Cup, according to Ishant, who has played 100 Test matches for India. India, a two-time champion, will compete for the Asia Cup championship prior to hosting the 50-over World Cup later this year.
“The good thing is that he didn’t have a second surgery. If he had undergone a second surgery, he would have been out for even longer. He has had one surgery now but I don’t think he will be fit for the World Cup for sure. Hopefully, if he gets fit for the IPL, it will be great,” Ishant concluded.
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