Rishabh Pant’s brief appearance during India’s practice session portrays a concerning scenario. Here’s the reason behind it.
Rishabh Pant had a brief appearance during India’s training session prior to the 3rd T20I against Afghanistan. Pant engaged in a conversation with both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
During the journey towards recovery, Rishabh Pant, the wicketkeeper-batter, engaged in a lively conversation with former India skipper Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma on the sidelines of the 3rd T20I against Afghanistan. The third and final T20I of the series between Team India, led by Shivam Dube, and the visitors will take place on Wednesday at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium. After securing an unbeatable 2-0 lead over the Rashid Khan-less side, the Indian team has arrived in Bengaluru.
Pant, who is currently recuperating at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), is expected to make a comeback for the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the upcoming 2024 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The left-handed batsman and captain of the franchise had suffered several injuries in a severe car accident approximately 13 months ago. Sporting a relaxed Jordan t-shirt and black shorts, Pant engaged in some shadow batting and also practiced receiving throwdowns from NCA members while honing his wicketkeeping skills.
Pant exhibited his batting skills for approximately 20 minutes in the Chinnaswamy nets prior to the arrival of the Indian team members at the venue for their match fitness. Additionally, Pant exchanged greetings with power-hitter Rinku Singh and engaged in conversations with various Indian team members. Based on the visuals, Pant appeared to be slightly hindered as the wicketkeeper displayed a slight hobble during his brief presence at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Pant suffered a severe injury to his right knee, resulting in the tearing of all three key ligaments. Following the tragic car accident, the wicketkeeper underwent three successful reconstructive surgeries. Despite the challenges, the Indian wicketkeeper-batter remains committed to sharing regular updates about his fitness journey on various social media platforms. Delhi Capitals have shown their faith in Pant by retaining him for the upcoming season of the IPL. In November last year, the young player participated in a DC camp held in Kolkata. Additionally, Pant also attended the IPL auction in Dubai.
Ganguly confirms Pant’s participation in the upcoming IPL season
In a recent statement, Sourav Ganguly, the director of cricket for Delhi Capitals (DC), expressed his confidence in Rishabh Pant’s return to the IPL in the next season. Ganguly assured that Pant is currently in good form and will be a part of the IPL. He also mentioned that Pant has ample time to practice and improve his skills before the tournament begins. Ganguly made these remarks during the DC camp at Jadavpur University Salt Lake Campus. Pant had missed the previous edition of the IPL in 2023, as well as the ICC World Test Championship final and the ODI World Cup. His last appearance for India was against Bangladesh in December 2022. With 33 Tests, 30 ODIs, and 66 T20Is under his belt, Pant is known for his explosive batting abilities.
