Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting has said that Rishabh Pant is confident of playing every game in IPL 2024.
The star India wicketkeeper-batter has been recovering from a near-fatal car accident that took place more than a year ago. He is yet to play competitive cricket, but has been making steady progress, aiming to get fit for IPL 2024.
Ricky Ponting talked about Pant’s chances for IPL 2024 after being named the head coach of MLC franchise Washington Freedom. Ponting said that Pant is extremely confident of playing the entire IPL 2024, even if he might not be able to keep wickets or lead the side.
“Rishabh is very confident that he’s going to be right to play,” said Ponting. “In what capacity we’re not quite sure yet. You would have seen all the social-media stuff, he’s up and about and running well. But in saying that we’re only six weeks away from the first game as well. So we’re not sure if we’ll get wicketkeeping out of him this year.
“But I’ll guarantee if I asked him now he’ll say, ‘I’m playing every game, I’m keeping every game and I’m batting at No.4.’ That’s just what he’s like, but we’ll keep our fingers crossed. He’s such a dynamic player. He’s obviously our captain. We missed him incredibly last year.”
While Pant is confident of being fit enough to play the entire season, Ponting was realistic in his assessment of the situation and said that whatever number of games they can get out of him will be a bonus for Delhi Capitals.
“If you understand the journey he’s been on the last 12-13 months, it was a horrific incident. One that I know he feels very lucky to have even survived, let alone have the chance to play cricket again.
“We’ll just keep our fingers crossed and hope that he can be out there and play. Even if it’s not all the games, if we can manage him through 10 of the 14 games or whatever that might be then whatever games you can get out of him will be a bonus.”
The former Australia captain also confirmed that in case Pant is not fit enough to lead DC, David Warner will continue in his role as the interim skipper of the side.
IPL 2024 is set to start around the last week of March.
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