Rishabh Pant, the Indian wicketkeeper, met with an accident two days before New Year and the southpaw is recovering in Mumbai, with the Indian cricket board taking care of all of his expenses. On January 11, Wednesday, it was confirmed that the batter would not be a part of the Indian T20 League 2023 edition.
To add more, Sourav Ganguly, the former chief of the board and the current Director of Cricket for the Delhi franchise, told reporters that the Indian batter would not be available for the upcoming edition. The former skipper further said that he is in constant touch with the franchise and that Pant’s absence might affect the team.
“Rishabh Pant will not be available for the Indian T20 League. I am in connection with Delhi. It will be a great Indian T20 League. We will do well. Rishabh Pant’s Injury will affect Delhi,” Ganguly was quoted as saying to the reports at Kolkata. Fans, on the other hand, opined that the decision was in the offing given the magnitude of Pant’s injury.
Could David Warner lead Delhi in Rishabh Pant’s absence?
As things stand, it remains to be seen if the southpaw from Australia David Warner could lead the Delhi franchise in the absence of Pant. To add more, it was under Warner’s captaincy that Hyderabad won the Indian T20 League in 2016 post defeating the Virat Kohli-led Bangalore franchise.
If at all the Kangaroo star gets to lead the team in the upcoming edition, one has to agree that Delhi are staring at possible chances of winning the league for the first time ever, going by his captaincy records. However, at the same time, it might also come at the cost of Pant who has given it all for the team ever since he was roped into the team in 2016.
Warner is currently on a leadership ban in the international arena and it would not affect his domestic captaincy role. However, Yash Dhull, the Indian youngster, is also likely to be one of the front-runners to lead the team in the absence of Pant.
Here’s how fans have reacted to Rishabh Pant getting ruled out of the Indian T20 League 2023:
Ssbko pta hai pehle se
— Mohammad Salman Sam (@imsalmansam) January 11, 2023
Man! Get well soon champ @RishabhPant17
— ????? (@3_141592653Pi) January 11, 2023
Who is the possible replacement
— Sathwik? (@Sathwikb5) January 11, 2023
It's very hard for Rishabh.. things are not going well in 2023… hope he can recovery well & comeback stronger than before. Get well soon champ!!
— ??????? ?? (@Kasturi_FanGirl) January 11, 2023
DC will come to playoffs then?? … 2018 happening again?? Under David Warner
— Dinu MI fangirl??? (@Din2000509) January 11, 2023
Sad for rishabh yaar…
But wishing him a speedy recovery ?— Nishant (@nishantdec26) January 11, 2023
Recover soon champion…
— A R N A V? (@Cricket_Arnav) January 11, 2023
Dc in shamblea
— I_am_hritik (@Iamhritik6) January 11, 2023
David Warner-New Captain of DC@DelhiCapitals @davidwarner31
— Vipul Sharma (@vipulsharma018) January 11, 2023
