Delhi Capitals (DC) suffered a massive blow last season when their captain and star batter, Rishabh Pant, missed the entire season due to a terrifying accident on New Year’s Eve.
Delhi Capitals (DC) suffered a massive blow last season when their captain and star batter, Rishabh Pant, missed the entire season due to a terrifying accident on New Year’s Eve. Pant was going to his home in Uttarakhand when his car crashed into a divider and caught fire in the early hours of the morning. Fortunately, Pant survived, but the accident was terrible enough to give him scars for life and rule him out of action for a lengthy period.
Pant’s absence was visible every time DC took the field last season, for they looked colourless and rarely won matches under the leadership of David Warner. Delhi Capitals could only win five games and ended in the ninth position, just above Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Despite having a talented bunch of players, DC couldn’t win consistent matches, and Rishabh Pant’s absence was a massive factor.
As DC prepare for a new season, they have named Rishabh Pant their captain. This news means he will be available to play next season. However, his participation will only be approved by the NCA managers.
Also Read: BCCI announces IPL 2024 Auction Player List
Pant is currently at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), working hard to get back on the park under the guidance of the staff. He underwent a major surgery on his right knee, which was severely injured and also had to deal with back and ankle injuries. Pant is expected to regain fitness by the end of February next year.
It is uncertain whether Pant will keep the wickets, and he will don the gloves only if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) approves. A decision will be taken based on his fitness by the time Pant makes a comeback. If Pant can’t take the gloves, he will play as a specialist batter and field if possible.
“If he is not keeping, he will definitely be on the field and will lead the side,” a franchise official told Cricbuzz.
Some reports also suggest that Delhi Capitals can use Rishabh Pant as an impact player in IPL 2024. It means he will play solely as a batter, but Pant won’t be able to lead the side in that case. The impact player can not captain a franchise in the IPL.
If Pant wants to captain DC, he will need to field as well. There can also be a case that Pant will be part of the leadership group and take decisions, while some other player will conduct things on the ground. For now, Rishabh Pant looks set to finally make a comeback after missing a lot of cricketing action in the last year.
For more updates, follow CricXtasy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
