Ricky Ponting drops major Rishabh Pant update ahead of IPL 2024

Rishabh Pant. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting dropped the latest update on Rishabh Pant, stating that the 26-year-old has started wicketkeeping at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Notably, he was spotted batting in the nets and the videos of the same went viral on social media but keeping was one major aspect that seemed to be tough for him as it puts a lot of pressure on the knees. However, Pant conquered the hardships and is currently training hard to gain some momentum ahead of the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League.

Meanwhile, the NCA has already given a match-fit certificate to Pant, which means Pant can play all the matches in the IPL without any interference from BCCI. However, the Delhi camp is in no mood to take any risk with Pant, who suffered multiple injuries following his horrific car accident in December 2022. Ponting mentioned that the cricketer is training to get to a better fitness level and his progress is being constantly monitored.

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He added that batting is no longer an issue and revealed that at one point, the team management expected Pant to miss the IPL 2024 but the cricketer has shown enough courage and dedication to fight all the obstacles and get back into the scheme of things.

“He’s actually played some practice matches over the last couple of weeks, which has been really encouraging for us. 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 was quoted as saying by India Today.

“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,” he added.

DC camp not sure about Pant’s fitness

Even though Pant has been given the fit certificate, the DC camp isn’t sure if he will be playing all the matches in the upcoming season. Speaking of the same, Ponting added that they are not sure about Pant’s match fitness and in case the Haridwar-born isn’t fit for all matches, he would be given a different role.

“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. 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 said.