The work has been put in and patience has been the virtue. And now, it is showtime for Rishabh Pant, who shall finally be making his comeback to cricket with the Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
DC skipper Rishabh Pant reflected on his journey over the past 14 months and opened up on his emotions ahead of his much-anticipated comeback to the game.
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“Jittery, nervous, excited- all of it, but at the same time, just happy, being able to come back to professional cricket. I’m just looking forward to playing my first game tomorrow,” Pant expressed at a pre-match press conference.
“Every time I take the field, it’s a different feeling altogether. I just wanted to bat as much as I could and get better every day. I don’t think much ahead, I take one day at a time, and give my 100%,” stated an optimistic Pant.
Pant was first bought by Delhi Daredevils, who were later renamed Delhi Capitals after the JSW Group came in as co-owners, in the IPL auction in 2015. He has been part of the Delhi Capitals squad since 2016 and was first named captain in 2021.
The turning point came around in December of 2022 when Pant met with a freak accident that almost ended his life.
The 25-year-old was alone when he reportedly dozed off at the wheel, leading his Mercedes to collide with a road divider and subsequently catch fire. Local passersby, including a bus driver, rushed to his aid, and he was transported to a hospital in Roorkee before being moved to Max Hospital in Dehradun for further treatment.
So for Pant, it is imperative that he also tends to his spirit as well in the upcoming edition of the IPL, and rekindle the joy in playing the game.
“Most of the conversations are pretty simple, we just want to go out there, have fun, not complicate things and give our 100% in all the games.”
Pant is not the only one excited. DC Head Coach Rickey Ponting also expressed his feelings on the return of their veteran skipper and reiterated on Pant’s ability to make them stronger as a unit.
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“We are about to start an IPL, it’s really an exciting time of the year. It becomes more exciting when your captain is back in your team. He is our leader, he is the heartbeat of this franchise and having him back is going to make this team a lot stronger.”
“We had a week’s training in Vizag before coming here and trust me Rishabh is back and ready to play. He will be a little bit nervous tomorrow, playing his first game in a while but nerves are always good because it means something to you. I’ve seen where his game is at, and don’t be surprised if something special happens tomorrow,” Ponting concluded.
The Delhi Capitals will take on Punjab Kings in their first match of IPL 2024 March 23 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur.
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