Will Rishabh Pant figure in India’s T20 World Cup plans? Here’s what BCCI secretary Jay Shah had to say

A fit Pant, now 26, would be a vital player going ahead for the Indian team during ICC T20 World Cup to be held in West Indies and USA later this year in June. Shah has made it clear that Pant’s return will be decided by the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore where VVS Laxman, head of NCA and Nitin Patel, NCA, head sports and science, are monitoring his fitness report.

Shah added, “The door is open for him. Right now he has begun to keep, so we are waiting. Our team is accessing his fitness and it’s only after consulting them, that we can give him the clearance on fitness.”

Pant hasn’t played a single game since the time he met with an accident after the Bangladesh series. And the Delhi Capitals captain is trying to make his way back into the Indian side through IPL. Speaking to The ICC Review, Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting stated he is expecting Pant to captain from the start of the forthcoming IPL season, should his fitness allow.

“It’s a big decision we’ll have to make because if he is fit, you’d think he’d step straight back into that captaincy role. If he’s not entirely fit and we have to use him in a slightly different role, then we’ve got some decisions to make there,” Ponting said.

Pant played some practice games and Ponting is hopeful that he will be available for DC’s opening match against Punjab Kings at Mohali which is scheduled for March 23.

“He’s actually played some practice matches over the last couple of weeks, which has been really encouraging for us. I know he’s worked incredibly hard on his body and his fitness to get back to the level that he’s at now. He’s kept in one of those games, he’s fielded in these games and the batting hasn’t seemingly been an issue for him so far,” he explained. Further adding, “We’ve obviously had worries and concerns that he might not have made it in time to be ready for the IPL this year. I mean, he was a huge loss for us last year and what he went through, we can’t even begin to describe over the last 12 or 14 months.”

The former Australian captain stated how the entire world is waiting for Pant’s return and is very hopeful.

“I’m very hopeful, not from a selfish point of view as the coach of the Delhi Capitals, but I want to see him back playing cricket again. I think the whole world wants to see him back playing cricket again and just playing with that youthful exuberance that he has. If he does that, then I know he’ll win some games for Delhi and we’ll have a good time along the way this season.”

The DC coach is confident that Pant won’t be scared by the comeback despite being away from cricket for the past 15 months.

“I don’t think he’ll be scared by the comeback. The fact that he’s missed 15 months of cricket, I don’t think it’ll faze him too much. I think he’ll just go out there and certainly, that’s my job anyway – I’ll be telling him to go back out and play the way that he’s always played and I think if he does that, I think the game will come back to him a bit quicker. If he goes out there and tries to find his way and get back into the groove, I think it might take him a little bit longer,” he points out.