“It’s still not 100%,” Rishabh Pant says in reference to the Delhi Capitals’ potential IPL 2024 comeback

When Rishabh Pant was spotted last month at a Delhi Capitals camp in Kolkata with senior franchise support staff including Sourav Ganguly (director of cricket), Ricky Ponting (head coach), and Pravin Amre (assistant coach), there were a lot of rumors that he might make a comeback in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2024. A report published in ESPNCricinfo a month later said that the wicketkeeper-batter is scheduled to make a comeback, this time as the captain. But Pant didn’t answer the rumors until Monday, the night before the min-auction in Dubai.

Since suffering a terrible vehicle accident in December 2022, which resulted in the ruptured ligaments in his right knee, Pant has been sidelined from cricket. After that, he was sidelined for the whole of 2023 while recuperating at the National Cricket Academy of the BCCI in Bengaluru. Videos of him batting again only started making the rounds on social media in the latter part of this year, however, it was never made clear whether he also started taking wickets.

A source from ESPNCricinfo a week ago said that DC is prepared to unleash Pant once again. The article said that the team is pleased to have him back as a batsman and captain, even though it did not state what position he will play in the starting lineup.

Speaking to the team before the mini-auction for the IPL 2024 season, Pant finally broke his silence over his rumored comeback, stating that he is still a few months away from being fully healthy but that he is in a lot better place than he was a few months ago.

“A lot better than I was a few months ago. I’m still working on becoming 100% better, but perhaps in a few months, I’ll be able to,” he said.

Pant, who will be up for auction in Dubai, said, “It has been really amazing because whenever we keep playing cricket we feel no one loves us because there is so much pressure.” As for his rehabilitation journey, Pant said. Yes, it was a difficult period, but at least I learned that I am loved, and respected and that others care about me in a sweet and quirky way. It’s incredibly meaningful and has aided in healing.

Nevertheless, Pant and DC still have until March to answer the phone. Should he decide to play again, it would be his first time since participating in the Bangladesh trip in late 2022.