Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, KL Rahul or Ishan Kishan? Ricky Ponting picks Indian wicketkeeper for T20 World Cup 2024

Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting backed Rishabh Pant to be picked in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. He said that although other keepers are fighting for the spot, he would pick Pant over everyone in his team. 

Rishabh Pant's comeback has been one of the biggest inspirational stories in the world of cricket. After he faced a horrific accident, not many backed him to return cricket field. But he gave his everything and put in incredible hard work to get back to what he is doing the best. 

After missing cricket for more than one year, Rishabh Pant made a return to cricket in the ongoing Indian Premier League. The keeper-batter made a comeback as the captain of the Delhi Capitals. He looked scratchy in the first few innings but after that, he found his mojo and gave glimpses of his old self in the IPL

Rishabh Pant played sensational innings in the league and slammed two back-to-back half-centuries before playing a brutal knock 42-run knock in the game against Lucknow Super Giants. The keeper-batter has regained his full form and would be keen to carry his good form in the league. 

With a keeper-batter spot up for grabs in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup 2024, Rishabh Pant surely would be one of the hot picks for the team. He has been delivering decent performances with the bat and it won't be a surprise if he makes a cut into the team. 

Ricky Ponting hailed Rishabh Pant for making a tremendous comeback and said that he didn't think about keeper-batter playing again after the horrific accident. He believes that Pant will get better with each innings that he plays. Speaking to PTI, he explained:

"Rishabh's comeback to top-level cricket has been nothing short of remarkable. I spent a bit of time with him during the last year's IPL. I think, a lot of World was really sceptical about whether he would play the game again or not. I wasn't sure if he would get back to playing but he was very strong right the way through, he said look I'll be right back playing again. 

"He was very confident about playing in this IPL. As each game passes by we will see a better and better version of Rishabh Pant. He has played impactful innings in the last few games, and has done tremendous glove work."

I would have Rishabh Pant in it every day of the week - Ricky Ponting 

Ricky Ponting talked about Rishabh Pant's chances for the T20 World Cup 2024, saying that the Delhi Capitals skipper deserves a place in the team for the event. He admitted that there's a lot of depth in the Indian team but Pant is ahead of everyone. He elaborated: 

"Do I believe whether Rishabh should be there in the World Cup squad? Absolutely I do. He deserves to be in that WT20 squad by the end of the IPL, I think we have seen Rishabh play the way we have seen him play in the last six seasons of IPL and now back playing for India. 

"One thing we certainly know is that there is a lot of depth around Indian cricket, with keeper batters and I feel some guys are in really good form at the moment. Kishan is playing well, Samson is playing well and KL Rahul is playing well, there's a lot of options there but if I was picking a team, I would have Rishabh Pant in it every day of the week." 

The Rishabh Pant-led side will be next seen in action when they take on Gujarat Titans on 17th April.