After a gap of more than a year following his horrific high-speed car accident,
Rishabh Pant
is expected to make his return to competitive cricket for his franchise Delhi Capitals in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman is believed to be in the final phase of his recovery at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru to complete a much anticipated return.
However, it's highly likely that he may opt to play only under the 'Impact Player' rule to begin with as a batsman alone.
How much toll the injury and a prolonged recovery has had on his body, specifically the knees, will only be ascertained once he plays, but former India captain
Sunil Gavaskar
says "maybe he won't be the usual".
"Knee plays a pivotal role in batting as well as 'keeping, which of course he may not do initially. Maybe he won't be the usual Rishabh Pant that we are used to seeing," said Gavaskar on a show on Star Sports.
"I'm also a big fan of him. For me the most important thing is he should be healthy like before, so that he can come and entertain us. It will be very difficult for him and it will take some time for him to get that batting fluency. But good that he has started training."
As far as the question of Delhi's captaincy is believe, it may not go to Pant who is not likely to stay on the field to marshal the resources.
Gavaskar believes Pant should lead only once he is fully fit, while warning against a "setback" should Pant be rushed into multiple roles right away.
"He certainly has the ability to think on his feet. If he gets back to full fitness, the reins of (Delhi Capitals) captaincy should be handed over to him. Let's stay hopeful. This season is first of him coming back to full fitness. Let's not rush him into doing something that there will be a setback," Gavaskar added.
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