'It is miraculous': Aakash Chopra on Rishabh Pant potential comeback in IPL 2024

by IANS |

New Delhi, Feb 21 (IANS) Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has expressed his views on Rishabh Pant's potential comeback for Delhi Capitals (DC) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, saying the wicketkeeper batter's inclusion to the squad will be miraculous after recovering from severe injuries sustained in a severe car crash.


Pant miraculously survived a near-fatal car crash on December 30, 2022. The left-handed wicketkeeper-batter has been doing extensive rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.


He has been making remarkable progress in his recovery, with him being fit for IPL 2024 looking as a realistic possibility for making a return to competitive cricket.


"There are filtered reports that Rishabh Pant will be seen playing this year in the IPL, which is absolutely phenomenal. It is miraculous, considering where he came from and where he has reached," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.


"Cricket is a very small part of life. It's very important but cricket is there only if there is life. The sort of accident it was, I was just happy that he was alive. I am pretty sure he would have had to work very hard during the journey from there to here because it's difficult and extremely lonely as well," he added.


Chopra also believes that Pant will not only play but also lead the Delhi Capitals as their captain adding that the 26-year-old's presence as a batter will resolve a massive problem for the Delhi-based franchise.


Chopra additionally asserts that Pant will assume not just a playing role but also leadership duties as the captain of the Delhi Capitals while adding that the inclusion of the 26-year-old as a batter will effectively address a significant issue for the franchise based in Delhi.


"He will bat and captain. With batting, he solves an extremely important problem for the Delhi Capitals because he can bat slightly down the order as, unfortunately, all their good players are top-order batters."


Earlier, Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting had also said wicketkeeper-batter is ‘very confident’ of playing every game in IPL 2024, but added that he’s still unsure of him to captain the side or be the keeper.


Pant has amassed 2838 runs at an average of 34.61 and a strike rate of 147.97 in 98 IPL games with the highest score of 128 not out.

Latest News
How eating junk food regularly can make you nutrient deficient Sat, Sep 07, 2024, 03:55 PM
Indian startups raise more than $348 million funding this week Sat, Sep 07, 2024, 03:53 PM
Hackers behind Rs 2,000 crore WazirX theft begin laundering stolen assets Sat, Sep 07, 2024, 01:37 PM
Iran, Serbia voice willingness to boost ties Sat, Sep 07, 2024, 01:35 PM
Brij Bhushan accuses Cong of conspiracy, Vinesh of cheating Sat, Sep 07, 2024, 01:33 PM
DRS in domestic cricket will improve batters' techniques, says Ashwin Sat, Sep 07, 2024, 01:20 PM
Voice of every Indian taught me something: LoP Rahul on 2nd anniversary of BJY Sat, Sep 07, 2024, 01:11 PM
Sultanpur encounter: UP govt orders magisterial probe Sat, Sep 07, 2024, 12:10 PM
Australia: 4.5-magnitude earthquake hits near Sydney Sat, Sep 07, 2024, 11:59 AM
Crimes against women surging in Uttarakhand: RTI data Sat, Sep 07, 2024, 11:57 AM
Death toll in Hathras road accident rises to 17 Sat, Sep 07, 2024, 11:39 AM
Africa CDC warns of rising mpox cases, launches response plan with WHO Sat, Sep 07, 2024, 11:27 AM
RG Kar scam: CBI finds documents of medical equipment never purchased but billed Sat, Sep 07, 2024, 11:26 AM
PM Modi congratulates Hokato Hotozhe Sema on bagging Bronze at Paris Paralympics Sat, Sep 07, 2024, 10:46 AM
Arunachal CM calls on Dalai Lama, gifts his first dwelling after fleeing Tibet to trust Fri, Sep 06, 2024, 04:51 PM