Image Credit- PTI
Although Rishabh Pant is “very confident” he
will be fit to play the entire IPL, Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting is
doubtful if he will be able to captain the team or keep wicket because he is
still recovering from serious injuries he incurred in a vehicle accident.
Since his vehicle accident in December 2022, Pant has
not performed because he believed his “time in this world was over.”
Speaking on Wednesday in Melbourne following his
announcement as the Washington Freedom’s new MLC coach, Ponting stated that
while Pant was optimistic about his availability for the upcoming campaign,
everything the coach could get from him is a bonus.
“Rishabh is very confident that he’s going to be
right to play,” Ponting said. “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.
“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.”