Rishabh Pant is 'confident' of playing entire IPL 2024: Ricky Ponting

Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting has revealed that Rishabh is feeling “confident” he will be playing all the matches in IPL 2024. Pant has not played any competetive cricket since his car crash in December 2022. The wicketkeeper-batter has been since recovering and has also been seen batting in nets. Ponting, however, added that Pant may not keep wickets for DC franchise in IPL 2024. “Rishabh is very confident that he’s going to be right to play. In what capacity we’re not quite sure yet. You would have seen all the social-media stuff, he’s up and about and running well. But in saying that we’re only six weeks away from the first game as well. So we’re not sure if we’ll get wicketkeeping out of him this year,” Ponting was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz. “But I’ll guarantee if I asked him now he’ll say, ‘I’m playing every game, I’m keeping every game and I’m batting at No.4.’ That’s just what he’s like, but we’ll keep our fingers crossed.” Ponting also confirmed that David Warner will captain DC if Pant isn’t ready, but highlighted how the Indian cricketer’s absence was felt strongly last season and the franchise will try to manage his workload during IPL 2024. “He’s such a dynamic player. He’s obviously our captain. We missed him incredibly last year. If you understand the journey he’s been on the last 12-13 months, it was a horrific incident. One that I know he feels very lucky to have even survived, let alone have the chance to play cricket again. “We’ll just keep our fingers crossed and hope that he can be out there and play. Even if it’s not all the games, if we can manage him through 10 of the 14 games or whatever that might be then whatever games you can get out of him will be a bonus,” Ponting added. In Pant’s absence, Capitals only won five of their 14 games and finished second-last in 2023 edition of IPL.