Former Australian skipper, Ricky Ponting has expressed admiration for the Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper, Rishabh Pant, who is currently recovering from a horrifying car accident on December 30. The pair formed a strong friendship while plying their trades for DC in the last few seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
During a recent chat on The ICC Review, Ricky Ponting said, “I absolutely love the bloke, I told him that on the phone the last couple of days. It was a horrifying time, a really scary time for everybody, let alone him. Anyone that knows him loves him – he’s a really infectious young guy that still has the world at his feet. So we will keep our fingers crossed and hope that he can get back to playing sooner rather than later.”
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Rishabh Pant witnessed a horrifying car accident on December 30 and suffered several serious injuries. However, he is recovering well and is expected to return to the field in the near future. Pant’s return to cricket remains uncertain, with his participation in this season’s IPL not completely ruled out.
However, it is highly unlikely that the DC skipper, Rishabh Pant will play for the IPL franchise in 2023, with the head coach already considering other options to compensate for the loss of his star player.
Talking about the same, Ricky Ponting said, “You can’t replace those guys, simple as that. They don’t grow on trees, players like that. We’ve got to look at – and we already are – a replacement to come into the squad, a wicketkeeper-batsman.”
If Pant is healthy enough, a significant role with the Capitals will still be available due to Ponting’s love and respect for his captain.
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Describing the same, Ricky Ponting said, “I want him sitting beside me in the dugout every day of the week. If he’s actually not physically fit enough to play, we’d still love to have him around. He’s the sort of cultural leader around the group, being the captain, and that attitude and infectious smile. If he’s actually able to travel and be around the team, then I want him sitting beside me in the dugout every day of the week.”
