(Cricket news) The head coach of Delhi Capitals, Ricky Ponting reckons that Rishabh Pant is confident of playing the entire IPL 2024 season. If it turns out to be true, then it would be a very exciting news for the Delhi Capitals and Indian fans.
Rishabh suffered a horrific car accident while driving back to his hometown on the 30th of December 2022 and has been out of the game since then. He suffered several injuries including a severe injury to his knee. In a slow process and over the last year Pant has been recovering well at the NCA and is gaining back his playing fitness.
Pant missed the entire of the IPL last year and also could not be a part of the World Cup at home. Although Ponting reckons that he’ll play the entire season, but in what quantity is still not very clear. The head coach is unsure about Pant taking on the wicket keeping gloves and leading the side this year.
“Rishabh is very confident that he’s going to be right to play. In what capacity we’re not quite sure yet. 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,” Ponting said.
“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.
“He’s such a dynamic player. He’s obviously our captain. We missed him incredibly last year. 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,” Ponting said, and confirmed that David Warner will remain in charge if Pant isn’t ready to lead the team.
Delhi Capitals missed the services of their Captain to a large extent previous season. The Capitals managed to win only 5 out of their 14 games and also lacked experience in the middle order which struggled for the entire season.
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