The Delhi Capitals franchise is likely to welcome back Rishabh Pant for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 as the star cricketer will return to lead the team after missing last season due to the injuries he sustained in a car accident earlier this year.
A Cricbuzz report claims that Pant will captain DC but will keep wickets only if he gets the clearance from the BCCI medical team.
The Delhi Capitals management officials have stated that Pant, currently undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, is expected to regain fitness by the end of February.
His active participation in IPL games will be contingent upon the clearance from the NCA managers.
"If he is not keeping, he will definitely be on the field and will lead the side," a franchise official stated as quoted by Cricbuzz.
The latest development refutes an earlier report from RevSportz which stated that Pant will be used only as an 'Impact Player' by Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024.
Multiple reports but no confirmation
But the Free Press Journal can neither agree or deny these news reports as there has been no official announcement of Pant's return to international cricket and the IPL yet.
Popular Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle however, feels confident of Pant's return and expressed his happiness after learning of the new development.
"This is such good news. Can't wait to see @RishabhPant17 on the field. A big thumbs up to his surgeons. He is a lucky man and I so hope he enjoys the rest of what will be a fine career," Bhogle tweeted on X.
The life-threatening accident
Pant has been recovering from the grievous injuries and subsequent surgeries after his horrific car accident on January 1 this year while he was on his way to Dehradun from Delhi.
Visuals of his car crashing into the barriers on the highway and then bursting into flames after landing on the opposite lane went viral on social media on New Year's day.
Pant battled career-threatening injuries in the hospital before he was shifted to the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai where he underwent multiple surgeries on his knees.
Team India & DC missing Pant dearly
He has since missed IPL 2023 for Delhi, the World Test Championship (WTC) final, Asia Cup 2023 and the ICC World Cup 2023 in India as a result of the accident.
David Warner captained DC in Pant's absence in IPL 2023 while Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul and KS Bharat have shared the wicketkeeping duties in India's white and red-ball teams this year.
