Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant will finally make his return to the cricketing field in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Head coach Ricky Ponting has expressed happiness on the skipper’s return, emphasising on the importance of his inclusion in the team.
DC missed the services of talented Pant in 2023 edition as he was recovering from a fatal car crash he suffered in December 2022. Ponting said that the side incredibly missed Pant last year as his energy and skills uplift the entire Delhi Capitals team.
Pant was incredibly missed last year: Ponting
Talking about his reunion with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, the DC head coach said, “We missed him incredibly last year. The whole tournament missed him. Rishabh brings so much energy to the team. He’s got that smile on his face, he’s hitting the ball as good as ever and he tends to lift all of his teammates around him.”
Ponting also shared his first impressions following his first training session with the team on Thursday. “What I saw today was very exciting, very promising. It’s great to be back with the Delhi Capitals family, Ponting reflected. It’s just the start. We don’t expect to be practising at our absolute best right now. We’re not even so much looking forward to the first game yet. We’re getting some volume work done,” he added.
Talking about this year’s approach, the veteran Aussie player said that it will not be different approach but it is going to be more intense with the way the coach and other staff will go about it. He also said that he talks about winning the IPL every time and he will talk about it much more this year. The Delhi Capitals will begin their IPL 2024 campaign against Punjab Kings on Saturday, 23 Match 2024 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium in Mohali.
Meanwhile, defending champions Chennai Super Kings will host Royal Challengers Bangalore in the opening match at Chepauk a day earlier.