Sourav Ganguly, former India captain and current Director of Cricket for the Delhi Capitals, has confirmed that stumper-batter Rishabh Pant will be unavailable for the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 25-year-old is still recovering from a horrific car accident in which he sustained multiple injuries throughout his body.
The middle-order batter was taken to a local hospital for primary care shortly after the accident before being transferred to Max Hospital in Dehradoon. The cricketer was recently airlifted to Mumbai’s Kokilaben Ambani Hospital, where he underwent knee surgery.
According to preliminary reports, Pant will be out of commission for at least six months. While discussing the matter, Sourav Ganguly stated that Rishabh’s absence will be felt by the team, but that they will still have a successful season in the upcoming season.
“Rishabh Pant will not be available for the IPL. I am in connection with Delhi Capitals. It will be a great IPL (for the team), we will do well but Rishabh Pant’s injury will affect the Delhi Capitals,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by Sports Today.
Rishabh Pant has done well so far in IPL
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has intervened and assumed full responsibility for Rishabh Pant’s medical needs. According to reports, the governing body will also look after Pant’s commercial interests. Even though Pant will miss the IPL, the Roger Binny-led organisation will pay INR 16 crore (Pant’s IPL salary).
The board will pay his IPL salary as well as the INR 5 crore central contract payments in full. The board’s medical team is currently monitoring Pant’s health and is said to be in constant contact with the doctors.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Capitals are looking for a new captain for the upcoming season. According to reports, they may turn to Australian international David Warner for the position because the veteran has prior experience leading a team in the cash-rich league.
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