Summary
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri highlighted Rishabh Pant’s remarkable return to international cricket during the 2024 T20 World Cup as a major surprise. Pant had been sidelined for approximately 14 months due to severe injuries from a car accident in December 2022. His comeback was notable for his exceptional performance behind the stumps, where he demonstrated remarkable skill and composure. Despite his absence from One Day Internationals (ODIs) since 2022, Pant’s performance in the T20 World Cup, including critical contributions and impressive wicketkeeping, stood out. His return was pivotal for India’s successful campaign, and he is expected to be considered for future ODI matches.
Key Points
- Rishabh Pant made a surprising return to international cricket in the 2024 T20 World Cup after a 14-month hiatus due to severe injuries from a car accident.
- Pant underwent significant rehabilitation, including a ligament reconstruction surgery, and returned to competitive cricket with a strong IPL 2024 season.
- In the IPL 2024, Pant scored 446 runs at an average of 40.5 with a strike rate of 155.4 for Delhi Capitals.
- For the T20 World Cup, Pant was chosen over KL Rahul and Jitesh Sharma as one of the two wicketkeeping options.
- Pant excelled behind the stumps, taking exceptional catches and earning the fielder of the match award twice against Pakistan and England.
- During the T20 World Cup, Pant scored 171 runs in eight matches with an average of 24.42 and played a crucial role in India’s victory.
- Shastri emphasized Pant’s impressive wicketkeeping skills and quick recovery, noting the challenge and pressure of his return to competitive cricket.
- Pant has not played ODIs since 2022 and was not included in the playing XI for the first ODI against Sri Lanka; however, he is expected to be considered for future matches.
