Rishabh Pant will return to competitive cricket after nearly 15 months, when he leads the Delhi Capitals in their first match in IPL 2024 against Punjab Kings on Saturday. Expressing his sentiments ahead of this eagerly anticipated comeback, Pant said he was nervous.
“Jittery, nervous, excited — all of it. But at the same time, just happy, being able to come back to professional cricket. I’m just looking forward to playing my first game,” said Pant. “Every time I take the field, it’s a different feeling altogether. I just wanted to bat as much as I could and get better every day. I don’t think much ahead, I take one day at a time, and give my 100%.”
Known for his fearless batting approach, Pant reflected on his mindset as the team’s captain this season. “Most of the conversations are pretty simple. We just want to go out there, have fun, not complicate things and give our 100% in all the games,” he stated.
Commenting on Pant’s return as captain and his readiness for the season, Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting expressed his excitement. “We are about to start an IPL, it’s an exciting time of the year. It becomes more exciting when your captain is back. He is our leader, he is the heartbeat of this franchise and having him back is going to make this team a lot stronger.”
Pant underwent rigorous training with the team in Visakhapatnam from March 14 to 19 before arriving in Chandigarh. “We had a week’s training before coming here and trust me, Rishabh is ready to play. He will be a little bit nervous tomorrow, playing his first game in a while but nerves are always good because it means something to you. I’ve seen where his game is at, and don’t be surprised if something special happens tomorrow.”