Delhi Capitals’ head coach Ricky Ponting provided insights into Rishabh Pant’s anticipated role and the team’s captaincy strategy for the upcoming IPL season. Following a life-threatening car accident in December 2022, Rishabh Pant underwent ligament reconstruction surgeries, raising concerns about his participation in the tournament. While Pant remains confident about his IPL stint, Ponting revealed that Pant might only feature as a batter due to potential limitations in wicketkeeping.
Ponting expressed optimism about Pant’s recovery but acknowledged uncertainties regarding his wicketkeeping duties. He emphasized the importance of managing Pant’s workload and maximizing his participation in the IPL matches. In the event Pant cannot fulfill wicketkeeping responsibilities, he could contribute as a pure batter or serve as an Impact Player during matches.
Despite Pant’s dynamic capabilities and leadership as captain, Ponting highlighted the significance of Pant’s journey to recovery and survival following the traumatic accident. Should Pant be unavailable for captaincy duties, Ponting confirmed that David Warner, who led the Capitals last season, would resume leadership responsibilities.
Ponting also discussed the team’s squad composition, including the acquisition of young England batter Harry Brook and the presence of overseas talents like Warner and Mitchell Marsh. He underscored the team’s need to improve performance, acknowledging past underperformance in recent IPL seasons.
With the potential return of key players like Anrich Nortje and Jhye Richardson, along with spin options Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, Ponting expressed confidence in the squad’s depth and versatility. Despite finishing fifth in 2022 and ninth in the previous season, Ponting emphasized the team’s determination to rectify past shortcomings and strive for success in the upcoming IPL season.
