Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has expressed admiration for Rishabh Pant, who is currently recovering from a terrifying car accident on December 30. The pair have formed a strong friendship while playing for the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Pant was recently transferred to Mumbai for further treatment, which is being handled by the medical team of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). He was initially admitted to Dehradun’s Max Hospital and airlifted after an initial leg of hospitalisation.
Due to the sensitivity of his injuries, which include multiple ruptures of his knee ligaments, a specific timetable for his return to cricket has yet to be determined.
Wishing the wicketkeeper a speedy recovery, Ponting revealed that he has been communicating his best wishes to the youngster via phone calls over the last few days. According to the former Australian captain, the International Cricket Council (ICC):
“I absolutely love the bloke, I told him that on the phone the last couple of days. t was a horrifying time, a really scary time for everybody, let alone him. Anyone that knows him loves him – he’s a really infectious young guy that has the world at his feet still.So we will keep our fingers crossed and hope that he can get back to playing sooner rather than later.”
“If he’s actually not physically fit enough to play, we’d still love to have him around” – Ricky Ponting on Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant has been a vital member of the team since his IPL debut in 2016. He has matured as a match-winner and was eventually appointed as DC’s captain.
Ricky Ponting admitted that he wants Pant in the dugout during the IPL 2023, even if he is not fit and cannot play:
“If he’s actually not physically fit enough to play, we’d still love to have him around. He’s the sort of cultural leader around the group, being the captain, and that attitude and infectious smile and laugh he has is what we all love so much about him.”
“If he’s actually able to travel and be around the team, then I want him sitting beside me in the dugout every day of the week.”
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