After reports that Rishabh Pant got a clearance from the NCA to participate in IPL 2024, Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach Ricky Ponting gave a major update on his progress.
“It's a big decision we'll have to make because if he is fit, you'd think he'd step straight back into that captaincy role,” Ponting said.
“If he's not entirely fit and we have to use him in a slightly different role, then we've got some decisions to make there,” he added.
“He's actually played some practice matches over the last couple of weeks, which has been really encouraging for us,”
“I know he's worked incredibly hard on his body and his fitness to get back to the level that he's at now. He's kept in one of those games, he's fielded in these games and the batting hasn't seemingly been an issue for him so far,” Ponting added.
“We've obviously had worries and concerns that he might not have made it in time to be ready for the IPL this year. I mean, he was a huge loss for us last year and what he went through, we can't even begin to describe what he's been through the last 12 or 14 months,” concluded the legendary cricketer.
The wicketkeeper-batter suffered a horrific car crash in December 2022 and has been out of action since then. He is now expected to make a return to competitive cricket in IPL 2024.