- Monday, February 24, 2025
The diminutive wicket-keeper-batter survived a deadly car accident in December 2022 and returned to cricket in the just concluded Indian Premier League after missing the game for more than a year.
By: Shubham Ghosh
FORMER Australia captain Ricky Ponting has called Indian wicket-keeper-batter Rishabh Pant’s comeback to professional cricket after a major car crash that had put him out of action for more than a year as “nothing short of spectacular”. He made the remark days before India
Ponting is the coach of Delhi Capitals, the franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) which was captained by the explosive left-handed batter in the just concluded season. Although Delhi could not make the top four, the 26-year-old slammed 446 runs in 13 matches at an average of 40 plus and strike rate of 155 above in this edition. He also claimed a joint-high 16 dismissals behind the stumps.
Pant was suspended in his team’s final crucial game against Bengaluru for alleged breach of conduct. Had he played that game, Delhi might make it to the playoffs. Who knows?
Read: Batting blitz in IPL 2024 triggers debate ahead of T20 World Cup; here’s why
But his form has already made the fans, including Ponting, excited about his form in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
“It’s been nothing short of spectacular, to be honest,” the Australian legend told The ICC Review.
“I spent a few months with him in the middle of the IPL last year, which was only sort of three or four months after his accident.
Read: A ‘flying’ launch of India jersey for T20 World Cup 2024 ‘surprises’ Rohit Sharma; WATCH
“And I had grave fears then that he would never play the game again. What he’d been through psychologically, but what he’d been through physically. At that stage, he still couldn’t walk.
“He was on crutches. And I remember saying to him, what do you think about next season? He just looked at me and said, don’t worry, I’ll be right. And he’s looked after himself incredibly well.
“The Delhi Capitals franchise has done a great job looking after him. Patrick Farhart has been his physio. He’s done a great job with him as well.”
Ponting, 49, however, added that the real concern around Pant was how he would deal with the wicket-keeping load.
He said nobody has any concerns about how Pant bats but for him, squatting for every ball for 14 matches in a row could be a matter of concern.
Pant missed India’s mission at the T20 World Cup at home last year because of his accident that had left him immobile for some time. The incident happened in December 2022 when he was driving home in his SUV which crashed near Roorkee, his home town in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, and caught fire. A badly injured Pant was saved by some passers-by.
He was picked for India’s 15-member squad for the World Cup, something Ponting had predicted. He has played 66 T20 internationals so far, scoring 987 runs at a strike rate of 126 plus and three fifties.
“I was asked when I was over there what I thought about him,” Ponting said.
“He’d been picked in the Indian squad, and I basically said he’d be one of the first players picked, and sure enough he was.
“So, great to see him back out there playing again. I’ve enjoyed every moment of working with him. Obviously, he’s been the captain of the Delhi Capitals, and I’ve been the coach there.
“But it’s been a remarkable comeback, and hopefully he has a huge impact on this World Cup.”
India will kick off their campaign at the T20 World Cup to be held in the West Indies and the United States on June 5 when they take on Ireland in New York.
The former champions will take on arch-rivals Pakistan, also in New York, on June 9.
