Robin Uthappa believes that Rishabh Pant might risk worsening his injuries by attempting a hasty return, given the complex set of injuries he sustained in a car accident in December 2022.
Restlessly awaiting an opportunity for his much-anticipated return, Pant expressed his eagerness to bat, lead, and keep wickets for Delhi Capitals (DC) in the 2024 edition. However, the franchise has officially confirmed that Pant will only play as a batter in the initial phase of the tournament.
His performances in the IPL, marking his return to the cricketing field after more than 15 months, will determine his spot in the Indian squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
His comeback will be scrutinized closely, considering the intricate nature of his injuries, and the Indian team management is cautious about not rushing him back.
Uthappa also believes that Pant should avoid pushing himself too hard in a hurry to return to the national side.
“Well as far as Rishabh Pant is concerned, it all depends on his fitness and how he recovers from what has been a tough year and a half for him. I think, we should send all those energies to him that he recovers and comes back to his best.”
“It’s good to see He’s back in the nets, he’s hitting the ball well, doing center wicketkeeping practice. He shouldn’t rush the process,” Uthappa said in an interaction with InsideSport.
“It’s hard to stay out of the game for so long, especially when you are super competitive and you want to perform and win matches.”
”But sometimes when you hurry the process you end up doing more damage and go back to the wait line which is more frustrating. I really hope he takes his time to comeback and when he does he comes out good,” Uthappa added.
In 2022, Pant was already contending with a knee injury that was further aggravated by the car accident. To address torn ligaments, he underwent several surgeries and has been intensifying his training to ensure full fitness for the 2024 IPL, commencing on March 22.
“As far as T20 is concerned, Dhruv has to be patient”- Robin Uthappa
During Rishabh Pant’s extended absence from the team, various candidates have taken on wicketkeeping duties for India in different formats. Players like Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, KS Bharat, Jitesh Sharma, and Dhruv Jurel have all had opportunities, with the potential opening in the World Cup squad also looming.
Among them, Dhruv Jurel, the most recent contender, has made a promising initial impact in the ongoing Test series against England. Substituting for KS Bharat, the wicketkeeper-batsman was recognized as the player of the match for his standout performance in the fourth Test in Ranchi.
Despite Jurel’s positive beginning in his international journey, Uthappa believes that he will need to be patient for his chance in the T20 format.
“As far as Dhruv Jurel is concerned, there is a lot happening in Indian cricket. We have seen a lot of moving pieces in the last couple of months. Ishan Kishan, KS Bharat has also been in the mix.”
“We’ll have to see how the IPL goes. Kl Rahul is also a keeper, T20 World Cup player. How does KL fit in the mix given his injuries and hopefully he recovers soon. For Dhruv, as far as T20 is concerned, he has to wait. But it is incredible what he has achieved at the national level,” Uthappa stated.
Jurel has demonstrated his skills in the T20 format through a series of brief yet impactful performances as a key player for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL 2023.
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