Star Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant is on the verge of making a triumphant return to professional cricket after a harrowing car accident on December 30, 2022. The 26-year-old underwent multiple surgeries, sidelining him from IPL 2023, the Asia Cup, and the ODI World Cup. However, he is now poised for a comeback in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) and could potentially lead the Delhi Capitals throughout the season.

Mentor Sourav Ganguly has indicated that the National Cricket Academy (NCA) is likely to grant clearance for Rishabh Pant on March 5, paving the way for his return to the Delhi Capitals’ camp. Ganguly emphasized a cautious approach, acknowledging Pant’s vital role in the team.

The former India skipper stated that if Rishabh Pant isn’t fit for some games, there are alternative players who can take up the captaincy role. Sourav Ganguly listed Kumar Kushagra, Ricky Bhui, Shai Hope, and Tristan Stubbs as potential wicketkeepers in Pant’s absence.

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“He has done everything to get fit, and that’s the reason NCA will clear him. Let Rishabh get cleared on Mar 5 only then we’ll talk about captaincy backups. We are taking a cautious approach with him because he has a very long career ahead of him. We don’t want to push him in excitement,” Sourav Ganguly told The Times of India.

“We will see how Rishabh reacts. He will be joining the camp once NCA gives him the clearance. We will see match by match. We can’t predict. As for wicketkeeping options, there’s Kumar Kushagra. Ricky Bhui has had a very good season. There is Shai Hope and Tristan Stubbs,” he added.

Once hailed as the future star of Indian cricket after winning the U19 World Cup, Prithvi Shaw faced setbacks, both on and off the field. Shaw struggled in the Test squad and faced controversies off-field, leading to his exclusion. Despite a challenging season, Sourav Ganguly believes Shaw is ready for a resurgence, citing improved fitness and a prolific run-scoring spree.

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“Prithvi is batting really well. He went to play county and scored a lot of runs last season. The only thing about him is that he thinks a lot about the strike rate. That needs to be balanced. He is getting fitter too. There was over-reliance on overseas players last year. That shouldn’t be the case this year,” stated Sourav Ganguly.