Former Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting showered praise on Rishabh Pant making a remarkable comeback at the top level. Pant scored 446 runs in 13 matches of IPL 2024 at an average of 40.55 and a strike rate of 155.40 and finished as DC’s highest run-getter after making a comeback from multiple serious injuries, which he suffered in a horrific car accident.
Ergo, Pant was added to India’s T20 World Cup squad. Pant was backed by Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma to bat at number three and scored 171 runs in eight matches at an average of 24.43 to play an instrumental role in team’s success.
Pant also scored a quickfire knock of 47-ball 61 in the Duleep trophy while playing for India B and has been picked in India’s Test squad against Bangladesh.
“It’s a remarkable comeback. If you can even see his leg now and listen to the stories he tells about what he had confronted during his car accident, just the mental scarring that comes with that but the physical side and the rehab he went through, I didn’t think he would play last year’s IPL (2024),” Ricky Ponting told Sky Sports.
“But 12 months before, he said ‘Don’t worry about me, I guarantee you I’ll be right for the IPL’. We thought he’ll be able to bat and we might have to use him as a sub player (Impact Player) but he kept every game, was one of our leading run-scorers, bats No. 3 in the T20 World Cup and is part of a World Cup winning team and is named in the Test squad now,” he added.
Ponting, who observed Pant from close quarters as DC’s head coach, added the wicket-keeper bat is a winner.
“It’s a remarkable comeback and we’ve all seen him play and heard him in the stump mic, he’s an infectious character to have around the group. He loves his cricket, he’s a winner, that’s what he is,” Ponting said.
The opening Test match between India and Bangladesh will be played at Chennai from September 19.
