IPL 2024: "He Has Started Wicketkeeping" - DC Head Coach Ricky Ponting Gives Rishabh Pant Fitness Update

Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting has provided a positive update on Rishabh Pant's fitness ahead of the IPL 2024, saying the Indian wicketkeeper-batter has kept in one of the practice games in National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.

Pant, who was suffered multiple injuries in a major car accident in December 2022, has been recovering from that horrific crash and is attempting to make his comeback to professional cricket with the Delhi Capitals later this month.

The 26-year-old, who has missed over a year's action including the IPL last year, has already stepped up his recovery by appearing in a series of match practice sessions alongside India teammate Hardik Pandya at the NCA.

Speaking on the latest episode of The ICC Review, DC head coach Ponting revealed how the team will use Pant if he is not fully fit, but expects him to return as skipper if he is a 100 percent.

"It's a big decision we'll have to make because if he is fit, you'd think he'd step straight back into that captaincy role," Ponting said. "If he's not entirely fit and we have to use him in a slightly different role, then we've got some decisions to make there."

Ponting also added that the kind of work Pant has put in on his road to recovery including keeping wickets comes as a huge boost for Delhi Capitals ahead of their IPL 2024 opener against the Punjab Kings in Mohali on March 23.

"He's actually played some practice matches over the last couple of weeks, which has been really encouraging for us," Ponting added. There were doubts over Pant's ability to keep wickets, but Ponting has said the wicketkeeper-batter has already started keeping in NCA practice games.

"I know he's worked incredibly hard on his body and his fitness to get back to the level that he's at now. He's kept in one of those games, he's fielded in these games and the batting hasn't seemingly been an issue for him so far," Ponting said.

"We've obviously had worries and concerns that he might not have made it in time to be ready for the IPL this year. I mean, he was a huge loss for us last year and what he went through, we can't even begin to describe what he's been through the last 12 or 14 months."

As a precaution DC stacked their wicketkeeping options during the auction, adding the likes of Kumar Kushagra, Shai Hope, Ricky Bhui and Tristan Stubbs in addition to Abhishek Porel, who kept wickets in some of the matches last season in Pant's absence.

DC may use Pant as an impact player if he is not a 100 percent fit with David Warner likely to lead the side like last season. But Ponting was hopeful to see Pant back playing soon.

"I'm very hopeful, not from a selfish point of view as the coach of the Delhi Capitals, but I want to see him back playing cricket again," the DC head coach said.

"I think the whole world wants to see him back playing cricket again and just playing with that youthful exuberance that he has. If he does that, then I know he'll win some games for Delhi and we'll have a good time along the way this season."