Delhi Capitals and Indian cricket fans were delighted to see their skipper Rishabh Pant make his return after 454 days following a horrific car accident in December 2022. However, a return to action after such a long break does have its effects on the players’ body and mind.
Australian cricketer Steve Smith cautioned fans about having overly high expectations for Rishabh Pant ahead of Delhi Capitals’ match against Punjab Kings in the second IPL 2024 fixture on March 23 in Mohali. This match signifies Pant’s return to cricket after a 14-month absence following a serious car accident in December 2022. As the captain of DC, Pant aims to make a strong comeback in the renowned franchise league by securing an opening victory for his team.
Mood after viewing this picture: 😍😎💙❤#YehHaiNayiDilli #PBKSvDC #IPL2024 pic.twitter.com/jwN6eFTCaf
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) March 23, 2024
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Smith’s Warning For Pant
In an interview with Star Sports before the match, Smith advised fans to temper their expectations and instead savor Pant’s eagerly awaited return to the field.
“He is an absolute superstar. It’s not like he has come back after a two-month break like Virat, he is back after close to 18 months… He has not been able to hit the ball in that time, and he’s coming back to one of the biggest tournaments in the world with top players. We need to manage our expectations, and hopefully, he hits the ground running, but we need to be careful there as well,” Smith said.
The anticipation surrounding Rishabh Pant’s comeback has been palpable, especially after DC announced his return to the captaincy role ahead of IPL 2024. Pant underwent rigorous rehabilitation and training sessions at Bengaluru’s National Cricket Academy, displaying commendable determination to return to the sport.
Declared fit by the BCCI medical team just days before the IPL 2024 season, Pant has received praise and well-wishes from fans and cricket legends alike as he prepares to return to competitive cricket in DC’s clash against PBKS.
Pant, aiming to rediscover his usual form in the IPL, will lead DC’s batting lineup alongside David Warner and Mitchell Marsh in their opening match.
