The confirmation of the captaincy decision came through a video shared by the franchise, accompanied by the caption, “COMEBACK DONE NOW WELCOME BACK, CAPTAIN RISHABH PANT.” This declaration officially marked Pant’s assumption of the captaincy role. Notably, in the previous season, the Delhi Capitals were under the captaincy of David Warner, and they concluded the tournament in 9th position.
Rishabh Pant’s journey to captaincy hasn’t been devoid of challenges. He endured a significant setback in the form of a horrific car accident in December 2022, which sidelined him from competitive action for a staggering 14 months. However, his return to the helm of the Delhi Capitals signifies a remarkable comeback and a fresh chapter in his cricketing journey.
“Delighted to welcome Rishabh back as our captain,” stated DC chairman and co-owner Parth Jindal in a media release. “Grit and fearlessness have always dictated his brand of cricket, and not surprisingly, even his road to recovery. I can’t wait to see him walk our team out once again as we look forward to a new season with renewed passion, vigour, and enthusiasm.”
Rishabh Pant’s Remarkable Road to Redemption
Rishabh Pant, who last appeared in a competitive game in December 2022, participated in some practice matches and is set to be available for Delhi Capitals’ opening match against Punjab Kings at Mohali on March 23, coinciding with the T20 World Cup on the horizon.
After a 14-month recovery journey, the 26-year-old was certified fit by the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
“I feel very close to normal,” he conceded in a video shared by the BCCI.
In another video, the batter was seen back in practice in the nets, demonstrating his skills with lofted shots on the leg-side and executing a reverse-sweep.
The near-fatal accident near Roorkee, Uttarakhand, left Rishabh Pant with a ligament tear in his right knee and two cuts on his forehead, forcing the 26-year-old out of competitive cricket action ever since.
“First time in my life I felt like my time in this world was up. During the accident, I was aware of the wounds, but I was lucky as it could have been even more serious. I was feeling that someone saved me,” Rishabh Pant had recounted.
“I asked the doctor how long will it take for me to recover, and he said it would take 16-18 months. I knew I had to work hard to cut this recovery time,” he had added.
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