Will fit-again Pant find a place in India's squad for T20 World Cup 2024?

With Rishabh Pant declared fit as a wicketkeeper batter, his chances of making the India squad for T20 World Cup 2024 increase. If he performs well during IPL 2024, Pant could be wicketkeeper-batter

A day after BCCI secretary Jay Shah provided an update on Rishabh Pant's fitness, the board confirmed on Tuesday that the wicket-keeper batter is fit to play as wicket-keeper batter for Delhi Capitals in 2024 edition of Indian Premier League (IPL). 

In a press statement, BCCI said: "After undergoing an extensive 14-month rehab and recovery process, following a life-threatening road mishap on December 30th, 2022, Rishabh Pant has now been declared fit as a wicket-keeper batter for the IPL 2024."

On Monday, Jay Shah said that Pant would be declared fit soon as he has been batting and keeping well in the nets.

"He is batting well, he is keeping well. We will declare him fit very soon. If he can play in the T20 World Cup for us, that will be a big thing for us. He is a big asset for us," the secretary told news agency PTI.

Jay Shah also put weight behind Pant's inclusion in T20 World Cup 2024.

"If he can keep, he can play the World Cup. Let's see how he does in the IPL," said Shah.

Will Rishabh Pant lead Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024?

Pant, who has been seen now and then playing practice matches and doing fitness drills, be it at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru or Delhi Capitals’ pre-season camps, might be seen in a different role altogether in IPL 2024. 

Pant, who missed IPL 2023 after getting injured in a car accident in December 2022 has not recovered fully. IPL 2024 is being touted as his comeback tournament. However, he might not return to the field as a skipper of the DC side. 

"If he is fit, you'd think he'd step straight back into that captaincy role. If he's not entirely fit and we have to use him in a slightly different role," Ricky Ponting, chief coach of the Delhi Capitals said in an interview with ICC. 

Here's why India need Rishabh Pant as keeper in T20 World Cup 2024?

Since Rishabh Pant's absence from Team India, the management has been fielding different player for wicket-keeping roles. After Ishan Kishan, India have played Jitesh Sharma as wicket-keeper. With Ishan Kishan missing the central contract, it is expected that he won't be considered for selection for T20 World Cup 2024 unless he comes up with tremendous performance in IPL 2024. Still Ishan plays as an opener for his franchise Mumbai Indians and the management would be looking for a keeper who plays down the order.

However, a fit and in-form Pant will be a great assest for Team India given he has the experience and expertise to bat lower down the order. 

If Not Captain, What role will Pant play?

Since Pant has kept wickets in only one of the two practice matches and the DC management doesn’t want to rush him into as a keeper after the kind of accident he went through, Pant might be played as an impact player. 

Talking about how badly Pant was missed in the last season of the IPL, Ponting said, "We've had worries and concerns that he might not have made it in time to be ready for the IPL this year. I mean, he was a huge loss for us last year and what he went through."

Everyone wants to see Pant back on field playing cricket

"I'm very hopeful, not from a selfish point of view as the coach of the Delhi Capitals, but I want to see him back playing cricket again. I think the whole world wants to see him back playing cricket again and just playing with that youthful exuberance that he has," Ponting concluded.

Rishabh Pant Batting & Fielding Stats in Indian Premier League
YEAR	MAT	NO	RUNS	HS	AVG	BF	SR	100	50	4S	6S	CT	ST
Career	98	15	2838	128*	34.61	1918	147.97	1	15	260	129	64	18
2022	14	2	340	44	30.91	224	151.79	0	0	35	16	8	4
2021	16	4	419	58*	34.91	326	128.52	0	3	42	10	10	3
2020	14	3	343	56	31.18	301	113.95	0	1	31	9	13	0
2019	16	3	488	78*	37.53	300	162.66	0	3	37	27	18	6
2018	14	1	684	128*	52.61	394	173.6	1	5	68	37	4	2
2017	14	0	366	97	26.14	221	165.61	0	2	28	24	8	3
2016	10	2	198	69	24.75	152	130.26	0	1	19	6	3	0