Published: Jul 23, 2023, 03:02 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 24, 2023, 08:04 AM (IST)
INDIA wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant is on his way to regaining peak fitness after suffering a horrible accident in December last year. Pant has started to bat and keep in the nets but is all set to miss the upcoming ODI World Cup.
Pant’s absence has disrupted the balance of team India as the Rohit Sharma-led side has failed to find an apt replacement. They went in with KS Bharat in the WTC final but the keeper-batter failed to impress. The team is now preparing Ishan Kishan as a backup keeper to Pant.
While an accurate date for Rishabh Pant’s return cannot be predicted, Ishant Sharma feels that the pacer will most likely miss the next year’s IPL as well. Ishant said that Pant’s injury was serious and it will take some time before he returns to normal.
“I feel we might not see Rishabh Pant in the next IPL as well because it is not a small injury. It was a very serious accident. He has just started batting and wicketkeeping and to run and turn after that, there are a lot of things, which is not easy for a wicketkeeper and a batter,” said Ishant on Jio Cinema.
“The good thing is that he didn’t have a second surgery. If he had undergone a second surgery, he would have been out for even longer. He has had one surgery now but I don’t think he will be fit for the World Cup for sure. Hopefully, if he gets fit for the IPL, it will be great,” he further added.
If Pant misses out on IPL again, it will be a big blow to Delhi Capitals who were led by David Warner in the previous season and finished second last. Team India would also want Pant to be fit again as even though Ishan has taken up his spot in limited-overs cricket, the team is not sure if he can cope with the challenges of Test cricket.
