Rishabh Pant
is traversing a spectrum of emotions, ranging from nervousness to excitement, as he prepares for his first competitive game in almost 15 months. He will lead the Delhi Capitals in their IPL opener against the Punjab Kings on Saturday.
After enduring a lengthy rehabilitation process following a severe car crash in December 2022, Pant expresses gratitude for returning to the cricket pitch.
"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 tomorrow," Pant said ahead of his team's first match of the season.
The accomplished wicketkeeper-batsman acknowledges that regaining his former form will require time. He intends to approach the process one day at a time, focusing on extended batting sessions at the DC nets.
"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%," he added while talking about Delhi Capitals' pre-season camp in Visakhapatnam.
Similar to his batting style, Pant aims to maintain a straightforward approach for his team.
"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 said.
Head coach Ricky Ponting is delighted that his captain has returned to his rightful place.
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"We are about to start an IPL, it's really an exciting time of the year. It becomes more exciting when your captain is back in your team. He is our leader. He is the heartbeat of this franchise and having him back is going to make this team a lot stronger," Ponting said when asked about Pant's return.
Ponting believes that if Pant harbors a hint of nervousness ahead of his inaugural game, it signifies a positive sign. He didn't dismiss the possibility of a remarkable performance from the left-hander upon his return.
"We had a week's training in Vizag before coming here and trust me Rishabh is back and 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," he said.
Due to the Arun Jaitley Stadium being utilized for WPL matches, DC conducted their pre-tournament camp in Visakhapatnam as Ponting aimed for a strong start.
"Make no mistake, we have got a great team this year. Our preparations have been absolutely perfect. We are just looking to topping it off today, and make sure we put in a performance that I know would be good enough to win the game tomorrow," Ponting said.
(With PTI inputs)
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