Rishabh Pant is set to make a comeback in cricket, and he will almost certainly play in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The administration of the Delhi Capitals has confirmed that the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman, who has been out for nearly a year, will lead the franchise in the 2024 IPL season.

Pant, who is now undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, is likely to regain fitness by the end of February, according to management authorities. His active involvement in IPL games is subject to clearance by NCA managers.
Following a near-fatal accident on New Year’s Eve last year, Pant underwent surgery on his right knee, performed by Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala in Mumbai, and dealing with injuries to his back and ankles, there is still question regarding Pant’s ability to keep wickets during IPL matches.

Officials with the franchise have stated that he will only take on wicket-keeping duties if cleared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI); otherwise, he will concentrate on batting and fielding. This dispels the notion that the team will just use the 26-year-old player as an Impact Player.”If he is not keeping, he will definitely be on the field and will lead the side,” a franchise official stated.
Pant missed the whole IPL season last year, and the Delhi Capitals, who placed ninth in the points standings, felt his absence hard. The Capitals are now counting on their inspirational leader to help them turn things around in the coming season.

Pant has missed multiple games since January 2023, including the four-Test home series against Australia, the 2023 IPL, series in the West Indies, Ireland, the Asia Cup, and the World Cup. He is also expected to skip the following three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, as well as the crucial five-Test series against England in February and March. Furthermore, he is already ruled out of the current series against South Africa.