look news india
New Delhi, 23 February (HS). Rishabh Pant will start IPL 2024 as the captain of Delhi Capitals, but will not keep wickets in the first half of the season.
While speaking to ESPNcricinfo, franchise co-owner Parth Jindal gave the above information and also said that the Capitals are hopeful that South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje will be fit for the opening match against Punjab Kings on March 23. Will go.
Jindal said the Capitals think-tank, led by team director Sourav Ganguly and head coach Ricky Ponting, was confident of Pant's IPL debut, subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI.
Jindal said on Thursday, “Rishabh is batting. He is running. He has started his wicketkeeping. He is likely to be fully fit for the IPL. I am expecting that Rishabh will play IPL and he will lead from the first match itself. In the first seven matches we will play him only as a batsman and based on how his body reacts, we will take a decision for the remaining matches of the IPL.”
The IPL will mark Pant's return to competitive cricket since the Test series in Bangladesh in December 2022. Following the horrific car accident on December 30, 2022, Pant has worked hard to make a remarkable recovery after undergoing successful surgery on his right knee.
Pant played practice matches in Bengaluru this week, which were organized by the National Cricket Academy.
On Tuesday, Pant also posted a video on his Instagram of him practicing some wicketkeeping. On Wednesday, he batted and fielded in a 20-over match, which included a series of match simulation exercises. The game was supervised by the BCCI medical staff. Hopefully Pant will play at least a few more such games before joining the Capitals. Once he gets BCCI approval, he will join the team for a preparation camp in Visakhapatnam, where the team will also play two home matches.