New Delhi: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes Rishabh Pant needs to play a few more matches for Delhi Capitals (DC) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 before it can be determined if the wicket-keeper batter is ready to make his comeback in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup 2024. Pant has been in impressive form for DC ever since returning to action this season after recovering from serious injuries sustained in a horrific car crash in December 2023.
There were doubts about him returning to IPL 2024 as a keeper-batter considering workload management. However, Pant has not only led his team but also kept wickets and batted brilliantly in the season so far. He smashed his first half-century of the season against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to help his side attain a 20-run victory in Vizag and followed it up with another cracking fifty against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) albeit in a losing cause in his side’s last encounter.
Pant scored a quickfire 25-ball 55 against KKR which was laced with 5 sixes and 4 fours as he entertained the fans with some brilliant strokeplay. Pant took the fans down memory lane with his brisk hitting showing no signs of rustiness. It has been a thumping comeback for the DC comeback which has sparked the debate over his return to the national team and his chances of making it to the T20 World Cup squad.
However, Ganguly believes he needs to see at least one more week of Pant’s batting to assess in a better manner if the wicket-keeper batter is ready for the World Cup. The Delhi Capitals mentor wants to let Pant ease into the season and keep playing the way he has been so far.
“Rishabh is fully fit. His form has been fantastic. He is keeping and batting well but let him play a few matches more: If the national selectors want him, I should be able to judge in another week,” Ganguly said in a press conference ahead of Delhi Capitals’ clash against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Pant has performed well for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024 so far with 152 runs from 4 matches. The swashbuckling left-hander has an average of 38 and an impressive strike rate of 158.33, including two half-centuries. As a skipper though, he has failed to impress much as Delhi Capitals have managed only one win in their first four matches.
