Rishabh Pant will be part of Delhi Capitals table at the IPL Auction. Image: X/Delhi Capitals
Rishabh Pant has shared a major update about his fitness and potential return to the field. Pant has been out of action since a horrifying car accident in December last year. The accident had occurred while Pant was driving towards his hometown of Roorkee back then.
Speaking to his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals, ahead of the IPL mini-auction, Pant revealed that he is currently in a much better place than a couple of months back.
“The kind of accident I had, [I’m] lucky to be alive,” he said. “I think it was very challenging, especially the first part I would say more from a physical point of view because in the starting there was a lot of pain to be endured. But just looking at the journey till now, I think it’s been going really well from a recovery point of view. I felt like I couldn’t face people and all, and I felt like I had to do something which gives me confidence.”
“Much better, given what I was doing few months ago. I’m still on recovery to 100 percent but hopefully, in few months time I will be able to do it,” Pant said.
“It has been really amazing because whenever we keep playing cricket we feel no one loves us because there is so much pressure. Yes, it was a hard time, but at least I got to know that people love and respect me and kind of kind of concern that they showed by heartwarming and crazy for me. It means a lot and helped a lot in recovery,” the 26-year-old added.
Pant also revealed that he will be part of the team’s strategy at the auction. “You know, as a kid, I used to think one day I might be able to sit on the table, somehow to help a team or something like that,” Pant said. “I never thought that I will make it happen but somehow things are in place and I’m able to do it, and [I am] lucky to be able to do it. I think, hopefully, it will be an amazing experience because this is something new [for me]. Lots of love for the fans and hope we get whatever we want from the auction, I guess.
“Nervousness is definitely one point I’ve to work on because whenever you do something exciting or new, the nervousness is always there. Yes, this is my first time but I want to grow as an individual and learn whatever I can from it. [It’s] really exciting because I don’t know many people have done it or not, but I would love to be part of it – something exciting, something new.”
A video of Pant’s interaction was shared by the official handle of the Delhi Capitals franchise on social media platforms. “Here we go. Smile is back, audacity is back, look who’s back,” read the caption of the post shared by the Delhi-based side.
In international cricket, Pant was last seen in action in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur in December 2022. Since then, he has missed some key events such as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, IPL 2023, ICC World Test Championship final and the recently concluded ODI World Cup.
Last month, Pant was spotted at a Delhi Capitals camp in Kolkata in the presence of the Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly, head coach Ricky Ponting and Assistant Coach Pravin Amre. Rumors have been rife over Pant’s possible return to competitive cricket in the next edition of the IPL.
In Pant’s absence, Australia batter David Warner had led Delhi Capitals in IPL 2023. Delhi Capitals did not have a memorable outing and ended the season in ninth spot with five wins from 14 matches.