Earlier this month, Rishabh Pant heaved a sigh of relief as the BCCI declared him fit for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, which got underway on March 22.
Notably, Pant has been out of competitive action ever since his horrific car crash in December 2022. He tore all three key ligaments in his right knee and had three successful reconstructive surgeries in the aftermath of the near-fatal accident.
The wicketkeeper-batter then underwent an extended rehabilitation at the NCA and missed out on all the action last year, including the IPL, WTC final, Asia Cup and World Cup.
Rishabh Pant, the designated captain of Delhi Capitals, addressed a press conference on the eve of his team’s opening match against Punjab Kings in Mohali.
The 26-year-old admitted that he is experiencing all sorts of emotions ahead of his comeback match.
"Jittery, nervous, excited...all of it, but at the same time, just happy, being able to come back to professional cricket. I'm just looking forward to playing my first game tomorrow," Pant said.
"Every time I take the field, it's a different feeling altogether. I just wanted to bat as much as I could and get better every day. I don't think much ahead, I take one day at a time, and give my 100%," he added.
Akin to his batting style, Rishabh Pant intends to maintain a straightforward approach for his team.
"Most of the conversations are pretty simple. We just want to go out there, have fun, not complicate things and give our 100% in all the games," he said.
Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting also expressed delighted that his captain has returned to his rightful place.
"We are about to start an IPL, it's really an exciting time of the year. It becomes more exciting when your captain is back in your team. He is our leader. He is the heartbeat of this franchise and having him back is going to make this team a lot stronger," Ponting said.
Ponting also expects the left-hander to shine on his return to competitive cricket after a 15-month hiatus.
"We had a week's training in Vizag before coming here and trust me Rishabh is back and ready to play. He will be a little bit nervous tomorrow, playing his first game in a while but nerves are always good because it means something to you.
"I've seen where his game is at, and don't be surprised if something special happens tomorrow," he said.
Since the Arun Jaitley Stadium was being utilized for WPL matches, DC had their pre-tournament camp in Visakhapatnam and Ponting is confident about a strong start.
"Make no mistake, we have got a great team this year. Our preparations have been absolutely perfect. We are just looking to topping it off today, and make sure we put in a performance that I know would be good enough to win the game tomorrow," Ponting said.
(With PTI inputs)
