Rishabh Pant set to light up new Premier League before epic red-ball return

India wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant is all set to feature in the opening game of the Delhi Premier League T20. As per the reports in the Times of India, it is learned that the Delhi Capitals skipper has confirmed his availability for the first game.

Rishabh Pant will be representing the Purani Delhi 6 team and will be playing against South Delhi Superstarz, which will be captained by the Lucknow Super Giants batter Ayush Badoni. The match between the two teams, which will also be the tournament opener, will be taking place on 17th August at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

Pant will be accompanied by his Indian and Delhi Capitals teammate Ishant Sharma. The lanky pacer will also be representing the Purani Delhi 6 team in the tournament. With two big names set to feature, it will be a massive boost for the tournament.

A source close to Pant stated that the keeper-batter has agreed to play the first game as the tournament will set a great platform for the youngsters of Delhi. He said that the left-hander will be playing one game as he needs to maintain his shape with the long Test season around. Speaking to the Times of India, he stated:

"Rishabh has agreed to play the first match of the DPLT20 as he wanted to be a part of this initiative that is likely to provide a great platform for youngsters in Delhi. He acknowledges the role played by Delhi cricket in his career. However, he needs to take care of himself, given that there is a long Test season coming."

The source also revealed that after playing the first match, Rishabh Pant will be training for the red-ball cricket. He said that the governing body and the team respected the keeper-batter's decision to play just one game of the tournament. He explained:

"Being in prime shape to represent the country is his utmost priority. He will get back to red-ball training after the first match of the DPL and start preparing for the long-format season, starting with the Duleep Trophy in the first week of September. DDCA and the Purani Delhi 6 management appreciate Rishabh’s gesture and also respect his commitments."

Rishabh Pant to play for India B In the Duleep Trophy

Rishabh Pant is all set to feature in the Duleep Trophy 2024. The keeper-batter has been named in the India B squad for the Duleep Trophy and will be playing under the leadership of Abhimanyu Easwaran. The tournament also will mark his return to Test cricket after a long.

The left-hander last played a red-ball match in December 2022 when he represented India while playing against Bangladesh. However, after that, he faced a horrific accident and missed action for more than one year. He is also likely to make a comeback to the Test team during a two-match Test series against Bangladesh next month

Rishabh Pant also made his return to the white-ball cricket for India recently. The keeper-batter was named in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 and played an instrumental role in the team winning the tournament. After that, he also featured in the T20I and ODI series against the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team.