IND vs BAN: "Rishabh Pant was being stared down as an Impact Sub"- Ricky Ponting's sensational accusation
Published - 11 Sep 2024, 12:33 PM | Updated - 11 Sep 2024, 11:38 PM
Former Delhi Capitals (DC) coach Ricky Ponting has heaped praise on Rishabh Pant for his impressive return to cricket after sustaining a serious injury in December 2022.
Ricky Ponting admitted he was surprised Rishabh Pant managed to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) season.
Pant was sidelined from cricket for 15 months after suffering serious injuries from his horrific car accident.
The left-handed batter scored 446 runs at an average of 40.55 and a strike rate of 155.40. He was involved in 16 dismissals behind the stumps and also captained throughout the season.
It's A Remarkable Comeback - Ricky Ponting
Speaking on Sky Sports, Ricky Ponting opened up about Rishabh Pant's extraordinary return to cricket after his injury.
Ponting highlighted the severity of Pant's accident and the extensive rehabilitation required. He said that he didn't think Pant would play in the IPL 2024 season.
"It's a remarkable comeback. If you can see even his leg now and listen to the stories he tells about what he confronted during his car accident, just the mental scarring that comes with that but the physical side and the rehab he went through, I didn't think he would play last year's IPL (2024)," Ponting told Sky Sports.
Rishabh Pant Is An Infectious Character To Have - Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting said that Rishabh Pant had assured him he would be ready for the IPL. The former World Cup-winning captain mentioned that Pant exceeded expectations by not only playing in every match but also becoming a leading run-scorer for the Delhi Capitals.
"But 12 months before, he said 'Don't worry about me, I guarantee you I'll be right for the IPL'. We thought he'd be able to bat and we might have to use him as a sub-player (Impact Player) but he kept every game, was one of our leading run-scorers, bats No. 3 in the T20 World Cup, and is part of a World Cup winning team and is named in the Test squad now," Ponting added.
"It's a remarkable comeback and we've all seen him play and heard him in the stump mic, he's an infectious character to have around the group. He loves his cricket, he's a winner, that's what he is."
Rishabh Pant delivered key performances on tough pitches during the 2024 T20 World Cup. The southpaw scored 171 runs in eight games while batting at No. 3.
He also played as a wicketkeeper in India's unbeaten run in the World Cup. Pant won his first World Cup with the Indian team in June.
The 26-year-old earned a call-up from the national team for the two-match home Test series against Bangladesh.
He has scored 2,271 runs in 33 Tests at an average of 43.67, including five centuries and 11 fifties. It will be interesting to see who will keep wickets between Pant and Dhruv Jurel.
