Team India wicket-keeper batter and Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant, who met with a major car accident in December 2022 is set to be out of cricketing action for a significant period, which means he could miss the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the IPL 2023 among six months of cricket at least. Now, former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, who is set to rejoin Delhi Capitals as the Director of Cricket, has confirmed that Pant will indeed miss the 2023 edition of the cash-rich league.
Ganguly, who was with the Capitals in IPL 2019 as an advisor had left the post after becoming the BCCI chief but confirmed that he is back with the franchise and mentioned that even though the side has a good squad, Pant’s absence will affect them. “Rishabh Pant will not be available for the IPL. I am in connection with Delhi Capitals. It will be a great IPL (for the team), we will do well but Rishabh Pant’s injury will affect the Delhi Capitals,” Ganguly was quoted as saying to the reporters in Kolkata as per Sports Today.
Pant had suffered cuts on his forehead and bruises on several other parts of his body, a back abrasion and a knee ligament tear. Pant after being shifted to Mumbai, underwent successful knee surgery but the injuries were critical and a full recovery is set to take a longer time than expected.
In Pant’s absence, Delhi Capitals may mull giving captaincy to Australian opener David Warner. Warner, who has led Sunrisers Hyderabad for more than five seasons, even captained them to a title in 2016. Warner’s opening partner at Delhi, Prithvi Shaw, who led the Indian U-19 team to the title, is also another contender. Since DC’s squad revolves around Pant, not just another captain, they will need a keeper too and currently, they just have Phil Salt in the squad or if need be, the franchise may ask Sarfaraz Khan to keep wickets.
