Rishabh Pant plays practice match in Alur, set to lead Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024

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Rishabh Pant is well on course of a comeback in the IPL 2024 for the first time after his near-fatal accident in December 2022. The 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batter is playing in a warm-up game in Alur near Bengaluru and showing great signs of comeback from a year-long injury layoff.

As per a report in Cricbuzz, Pant in all likelihood will lead the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024. However, the star cricketer will play as a specialist batter and Delhi Capitals will have a different player donning the wicketkeeping gloves.

As per reports, Pant's mobility hasn't been affected. Cricbuzz sources have confirmed that the right-hander's ability to run and bat with the same agility and freedom as before the accident in December 2022. Pant has been undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru after multiple surgeries. BCCI also arranged treatment for him in London last month.

The NCA is very likely to give him a green signal to feature in the IPL. Pant, one of India's key players before the injury which has kept him out of action for over 15 months, will also look to make a case for his selection in India's T20 World Cup 2024.

"Rishabh is very confident that he's going to be right to play. In what capacity we're not quite sure yet," Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting said.

"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.

"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," he added.

The IPL 2024 is set to start from March 22, league chairman Arun Dhumal confirmed to PTI on Tuesday. The IPL 2024 full schedule will be announced once the Election Commission of India confirms the dates for upcoming Lok Sabha elections in April and May. The entire of IPL 2024 will be played in India.