Rishabh Pant to play as pure batter for 1st half of IPL 2024: Parth Jindal

Delhi Capitals’ co-owner Parth Jindal confirmed that star wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant will lead DC in the IPL 2024 but will not keep wickets for the first half of the season.

Which entails seven games. Parth revealed that Pant has started his wicketkeeping drills and is actively engaging in batting and running sessions.

“Rishabh is batting. He’s running. He has started his wicketkeeping. He is likely to be fully fit for the IPL. I am expecting Rishabh to play IPL and he will lead from match one. First seven games, we are going to play him only as a batter and depending on how his body reacts, we will take a call for the rest of the IPL,” Jindal said while speaking to ESPN Cricinfo.

Pant has made significant progress since a potentially fatal accident in December 2022. The youngster played a few practice games in Alur and shared an Instagram video of his goalkeeping. Pant’s return will significantly benefit the Capitals.

With Andre Nortje missing several recent matches due to a back injury, Jindal said the Proteas pacer is ready for their first game. Nortje has been a consistent member of the Capitals’ lineup since joining in 2020. He has 53 wickets for the franchise, including 22 in the 2020 season at 23.27. Nonetheless, Nortje missed key tournaments such as the 2023 World Cup, SA20, and the multi-format series against India.

“He’s fit. Right now, he is bowing at 80% intensity. Next week, he will bowl at 100%. He’s going to make his comeback in the IPL. He is going to join our camp and should be good to go for our first game,” Jindal added.

Jindal also suggested that Harry Brook could tonk the ball while batting in the lower middle order (at six). The Capitals co-owner appeared to be pleased with Tristan Stubbs’ outstanding SA20 season and Mitchell Marsh taking over as Australia’s T20 captain.

“We feel very confident, the balance of the team is a lot better with Rishabh coming back in. We have a very good squad and a lot of options with players like Tristan Stubbs, who had a phenomenal SA20 (with SA20 2024 champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape), and Mitch Marsh becoming captain of Australia’s T20I team.”