Rishabh Pant endured a challenging 14-month hiatus from cricket following a severe car accident in December 2022. The wicketkeeper-batter made a triumphant return during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, reminding everyone of his exceptional abilities on the field.
In the IPL 2024 season, Pant amassed an impressive 446 runs from 13 matches, boasting an average of 40.55 and a striking rate of 155.40. His stellar performance as the skipper of the Delhi Capitals did not go unnoticed, earning him a place in India’s 15-man squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, which will be jointly hosted by the West Indies and the USA.
This tournament could mark Pant’s first international appearance in 16 months, making his inclusion particularly significant. Reflecting on his impending return to the international stage, the 26-year-old Pant expressed how much he had missed wearing the Indian jersey and representing his country during his recovery period.
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“Getting back on the field with the Indian jersey on, it’s a different feeling altogether and this is something I missed a lot. I think seeing the teammates and meeting them again and spending time, having fun with them, enjoying having conversations with them really enjoying,” he shared in a video released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
🗣️ Getting back with an Indian jersey 🔛 is a different feeling altogether 🇮🇳@RishabhPant17 is back in the nets for #TeamIndia 🤩
Crucial practice before the #T20WorldCup begins 💪
WATCH 🎥🔽 – By @RajalArora
— BCCI (@BCCI) May 30, 2024
Rishabh Pant also highlighted the unique opportunity that hosting the T20 World Cup presents for the USA. He discussed the potential impact on the sport’s growth and his efforts to acclimate to the new environment.
“We’re used to playing in different countries but this is a different prospect. It has opened up a different channel for sport because I feel cricket is growing around the world and getting in a country like the US and getting the exposure here would be nice for cricket and as well as USA cricket I guess. New pitches are there everything is getting set up, just getting used to the conditions I think the sun is little bit more brighter over here so just getting used to it. Hopefully, I make it count and make it more better from here,” he added.
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India is scheduled to play a single warm-up match against Bangladesh on June 1 in New York. Subsequently, Rohit Sharma and his team will kick off their World Cup campaign on June 5 against Ireland. The squad features both Pant and Sanju Samson as specialist wicket-keepers, each having had an outstanding IPL season. The decision of who will secure a spot in the playing XI promises to be an intriguing one, adding an extra layer of excitement to the upcoming matches.
