Rishabh Pant to lead Delhi Capital from match 1 in IPL 2024, confirms Delhi Capitals co-owner

Rishabh Pant will not only make his much-awaited return to action in the upcoming IPL 2024 but will also lead Delhi Capitals, franchise co-owner Parth Jindal has confirmed. The wicketkeeper-batsman has not played a competitive game since being involved in the horrific car accident in December 2022. He missed the entire IPL season last year and is yet to return to action.

His last appearance in competitive cricket came in December 2022 during the Test series in Bangladesh. Rishabh Pant has made a remarkable recovery after the accident and is now all set to resume playing competitive cricket.

Giving an update on the player, Jindal stated that he is batting, and running and has started wicketkeeping as well. Jindal is hopeful of Rishabh Pant recovering fully ahead of IPL 2024. He also confirmed that the southpaw will be leading the team from the very first game. In another update, the franchise co-owner stated that Rishabh Pant will only be playing as a batsman in the first half of the competition.

“Rishabh is batting. He’s running. He has started his wicketkeeping. He is likely to be fully fit for the IPL,” Jindal told ESPNcricinfo.

“I am expecting Rishabh to play IPL and he will lead from match one. First seven games we are going to play him only as a batter and depending on how his body reacts, we will take a call for the rest of the IPL,” he added.

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Rishabh Pant’s set to play in IPL 2024:

Rishabh Pant has continued his remarkable pace of recovery. He underwent numerous surgeries for three major knee ligaments in his right leg and has surprised many with the pace at which he has recovered. He has not only started running but has also started batting.  Earlier this week, he participated in practice matches in Bengaluru organized by the National Cricket Academy.

On Tuesday, he also posted a video on the social media doing some wicketkeeping and mobility drills. On the very following day, he batted as well as fielded in a 20-over match, according to the report. The BCCI medical staff was present to see Rishabh Pant during the match. The India star will be able to join the Capitals’ preparatory camp in Vishakhapatnam only after getting clearance from the BCCI medical team.

Meanwhile, the seventeenth edition of the IPL is scheduled to begin on March 22. Defending champions Chennai Super Kings will lock horns against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the tournament opener. Delhi Capitals will open their campaign against Punjab Kings on March 23.

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