T20 World Cup 2024: The Indian cricket team had their first full-fledged training session in New York ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 as Rishabh Pant trained with the national squad for the first time in 16 months.
Pant, who suffered a near-fatal car crash in December 2022, remained out of action until the IPL 2024. However, he performed exceptionally on his comeback while leading Delhi Capitals (DC), and was picked for the India squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 as one of the two wicketkeeper-batters.

In a video posted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Pant said, "This is one thing I missed a lot (practicing with the Indian team and playing for them). Getting back on the field with the Indian jersey on, it is a different feel altogether and this is something I missed a lot. I think seeing the teammates and meeting them again, spending time, having fun with them, enjoying having conversations, really enjoying it."
The 26-year-old also reckoned that adjustment to the conditions in the USA would be tricky as teams were not used to playing in the nation. The southpaw made a special mention of the brighter sunshine in New York.
"We are used to playing in certain countries but this is a different prospect. It has opened up a different channel for sport because I feel cricket is growing around the world and getting in a country like the US and getting the exposure here would be nice for cricket as well as USA cricket I guess," he said.
"New pitches are there, just getting used to this condition. I think the sun is brighter here, so just getting used to conditions over here and let us see how it goes. Hopefully, I make it count and make it more better from here," Pant concluded.
Pant would be competing for a spot in the playing with Sanju samson, who amassed over 500 runs in the IPL 2024. However, considering Pant's proven match-winning abilities, and the faith of Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid in him, he might play ahead of the Rajasthan Royals captain. India will kick off their campaign against Ireland on June 5.