Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has said Rishabh Pant potentially returning to play in the Indian Premier League 2024 as captain and batter is nothing short of a miracle. Pant met with a near-fatal car accident at the start of 2023 and suffered serious multiple injuries.
Since then, Pant has been on the difficult road to recovery. The wicket-keeper recently uploaded a video on his social media platform in which he is seen keeping wickets and batting in indoor nets.
Earlier, Delhi Capitals had confirmed that Pant will lead them in the upcoming season of the IPL. However, Pant might not take the glovework role for the franchise.
Speaking on his YouTube Channel, Aakash Chopra said, “There are filtered reports that Rishabh Pant will be seen playing this year in the IPL, which is absolutely phenomenal. It is miraculous, considering where he came from and where he has reached.
“Cricket is a very small part of life. It’s very important but cricket is there only if there is life. The sort of accident it was, I was just happy that he was alive. I am pretty sure he would have had to work very hard during the journey from there to here because it’s difficult and extremely lonely as well,” the former India opener added.
The renowned commentator reckons Pant’s addition to Delhi Capitals’ batting unit will be a massive boost for the team.
“He will bat and captain. With batting, he solves an extremely important problem for the Delhi Capitals because he can bat slightly down the order as, unfortunately, all their good players are top-order batters.”
Pant has amassed 2838 runs at an average of 34.61 and a strike rate of 147.97 in 98 IPL games.
Chopra added that Pant leading Delhi Capitals in the upcoming season of the IPL will be good for the franchise as Warner could not deliver in the previous season as a leader.
“It’s a very good thing if he (Pant) captains because David Warner, as much as he is a good player, there were serious questions over his captaincy last year. Although Ricky Ponting said Warner would manage, Axar Patel might be saying that he can bat and bowl.”
“Mukesh Kumar would also be saying that one day Warner remembered only in the 19th over that he is a bowler as well. You don’t see such mistakes from a captain but they were happening and on a regular basis. I feel Delhi Capitals should be happy if Rishabh Pant is available for captaincy,” Chopra elaborated.
IPL 2024 is all set to begin on March 22.
