Rishabh Pant will regain form in just matter of time, feels Navjot Singh Sidhu

Former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu believes Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Rishabh Pant will return to form in just “a matter of time”, and more importantly, Indian cricket had received back its “fine gem”. Pant made his competitive comeback on Saturday, 15 months after sustaining injuries during a horrific car crash in December 2022.

Pant only managed to score 18 runs off 13 deliveries, scoring two boundaries, but he was good while running between the wickets and also effected the stumping of Jitesh Sharma in their IPL 2024 opener against Punjab Kings (PBKS). Pant also claimed a catch to dismiss Shashank Singh for a golden duck.

“(He is) leading Delhi Capitals and running between the wickets and playing good cricket. Just a matter of time he will regain his form. But, importantly, Indian cricket has got its fine gem back, and we should be thankful to God on his return to the field,” said Sidhu on Star Sports on Cricket Live programme.

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Sidhu added that when he first saw the images of the crash, he wondered how anyone could survive a mishap like that.

“When this accident had happened, I saw the picture of the vehicle. Everything got burned, and there was no vehicle at the scene. How anyone can survive that sort of horrifying accident?

“Post that, we were in assumption that whether the operations will succeed or not, but all went well for him. And in the process of physiotherapy when the removal of plaster happens your body doesn’t move at all which is a very painful experience for anyone… from that condition, he is out now,” added Sidhu, following DC’s four-wicket loss to PBKS in their opening game.

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Top class cricket from Rana in the final over: Gavaskar

Two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders eked out a thrilling four-run win against Sunrisers Hyderabad and former great Sunil Gavaskar gave credit for the victory to young pace bowler Harshit Rana, who grabbed three vital wickets in the contest.

“He (Rana) totally learned (how the wicket is behaving) from that first ball he bowled; it was a quicker delivery and it was pulled for a six by (Heinrich) Klaasen,” Gavaskar said.

“The next five deliveries he took the pace off, bowled those slow cutters, slower off-cutters which actually meant that there was no pace coming off the surface for the batters to play the big shot.

The rookie pacer took dismissed Shahbaz Ahmed and Klassen as he successfully defended 13 runs off the last over to give his team a winning start.

“So fantastic over, absolutely top class over from Harshit Rana. I think they gave Russell for his two wickets and 64 the player of the match, but they must also give something to Harshit Rana for his spell and particularly for that last over,” added Gavaskar.

With PTI inputs