NEW DELHI (TIP)- Rishabh Pant has been cleared to keep wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) beginning next month but pace bowler Mohammed Shami will miss the T20 tournament following heel surgery, the country’s cricket board (BCCI) has said. India wicketkeeper Pant was involved in a near-fatal car crash in December 2022 that required him to undergo multiple surgeries and kept him out of the 50-over World Cup on home soil last year.
The Delhi Capitals’ captain was initially expected to play purely as a batter in the 10-team IPL, which begins in Chennai on March 22. “After undergoing an extensive 14-month rehab and recovery process … Rishabh Pant has now been declared fit as a wicketkeeper-batter for the upcoming IPL 2024,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement.
A strong showing in the IPL could earn the 26-year-old a place in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup in June. Shami, who missed India’s recent home series against England and underwent surgery, is a doubt for the World Cup. He is not expected to be back before September this year. “The fast bowler successfully underwent surgery on February 26th, 2024, for his right heel problem. He is currently being monitored by the BCCI medical team and is ruled out of the upcoming IPL 2024,” the BCCI statement read. Fellow seam bowler Prasidh Krishna has also been ruled out of the IPL with a quadriceps tendon injury.
There is, however, no update on KL Rahul, who hasn’t played since the first Test against England in January.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla expressed happiness at star Indian player Rishabh Pant being declared fit to play as a wicketkeeper-batter in Indian Premier League (IPL) starting from March 22 and expressed hope that the attacking left-hander will perform well.
Shukla said, “Rishabh Pant has been declared fit for batting and wicketkeeping. He was injured in an accident. BCCI provided all possible help to him and now he is coming back on the ground. It is a matter of happiness for us since he is a great player. We hope he will perform very well in the future. The selectors will take a call on the T20 World Cup team and Rishabh’s place in it, as of now he is fit for IPL and we are happy about it.”
BCCI took to their official X account and stated that after taking part in an extensive 14-month recovery process Pant has been given the green signal to take part in IPL 2024.
“After undergoing an extensive 14-month rehab and recovery process, following a life-threatening road mishap on December 30, 2022, @RishabhPant17 has now been declared fit as a wicketkeeper batter for the upcoming #TATA@IPL 2024,” BCCI wrote.