Rishabh Pant Set To Return In IPL 2024 As 'Pure Batter & Captain': Report

Rishabh Pant recently engaged in a warm-up game in Alur, near Bengaluru, indicating his possible return to competitive cricket after long time.

Delhi Capitals' management has opted to relieve Pant from wicket-keeping duties for IPL 2024.

Source : @mufaddal_vohra / X

Star keeper-batter Rishabh Pant's recent progress is a significant boost for Delhi Capitals (DC) ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. According to a report in Cricbuzz, Pant has demonstrated notable improvement and is likely to participate in the upcoming IPL season. Notably, the 26-year-old recently engaged in a warm-up game in Alur, near Bengaluru, indicating his possible return to competitive cricket after a long time.

According to the Cricbuzz report, Rishabh Pant's agility remains intact, allowing him to bat and run without hindrance. However, Delhi Capitals' management has opted to relieve Pant from wicket-keeping duties for IPL 2024. Therefore, pending clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Pant will participate in the tournament solely as a batter.

Rishabh Pant won't be wicketkeeping in IPL 2024. (Cricbuzz).

- He'll play as a batter and as a captain! pic.twitter.com/wPtIhNX7VT

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 20, 2024

Pant's comeback offers Delhi Capitals the middle-order firepower they missed last season. His dynamic captaincy and experience will elevate the franchise's performance in IPL 2024. Recently, DC head coach Ricky Ponting expressed confidence in Pant's readiness, affirming that the star player is determined to participate in entirety of this year's IPL.

Pant has been the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter for India across formats in recent years. Unfortunately, a tragic car accident near Roorkee on December 30, 2022, resulted in his absence from numerous significant cricketing events, including IPL 2023 and ODI World Cup 2024.

Since his debut in 2016, Pant has been a consistent for Delhi Capitals in IPL. He has led the franchise in 30 IPL matches, guiding them to victory 16 times. Throughout his 98 IPL appearances, Pant has amassed 2,838 runs. Renowned for his explosive batting style, he has registered 15 half-centuries and one century in the IPL, maintaining an impressive strike rate of 147.97.

Delhi Capitals full squad for IPL 2024: Rishabh Pant (c), Pravin Dubey, David Warner, Vicky Ostwal, Prithvi Shaw, Anrich Nortje, Abishek Porel, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Lungi Ngidi, Lalit Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Mitchell Marsh, Ishant Sharma, Yash Dhull, Mukesh Kumar, Harry Brook, Tristan Stubbs, Ricky Bhui, Kumar Kushagra, Rasikh Dar, Jhye Richardson, Sumit Kumar, Shai Hope, Swastik Chhikara.