"I didn't think he would play last year's IPL" - Ricky Ponting hails Rishabh Pant on 'remarkable comeback' from injury
Former Delhi Capitals (DC) coach Ricky Ponting hailed Rishabh Pant on a remarkable comeback from injury and admitted he thought the wicketkeeper-batter would not play the 2024 IPL season. Pant suffered multiple injuries after his horrific car accident in December 2022, keeping him out of action for 15 months.
He returned to competitive cricket in IPL 2024 and performed admirably, scoring 446 runs at an average of 40.55 and a strike rate of 155.40 in 13 outings. Pant also captained DC throughout the season.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Ponting praised Pant for his incredible comeback from injury, saying:
"It's a remarkable comeback. If you can see even his leg now and listen to the stories he tells about what he confronted during his car accident, just the mental scarring that comes with that but the physical side and the rehab he went through, I didn't think he would play last year's IPL (2024)."
"But 12 months before, he said 'Don't worry about me, I guarantee you I'll be right for the IPL'. We thought he'll be able to bat and we might have to use him as a sub player (Impact Player) but he kept every game, was one of our leading run-scorers, bats No. 3 in the T20 World Cup and is part of a World Cup winning team and is named in the Test squad now," he added.
Ponting also called Pant an infectious force within a team and a winner.
"It's a remarkable comeback and we've all seen him play and heard him in the stump mic, he's an infectious character to have around the group. He loves his cricket, he's a winner, that's what he is," said Ponting.
Pant played several valuable knocks on challenging wickets at the 2024 T20 World Cup, finishing with 171 runs in eight matches.
His batting at No.3 and solid glove work played a vital role in India going through the tournament unbeaten and clinching their second T20 World Cup title.
"He doesn't just play to make a few runs and be out there for the fun of it" - Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting referred to Rishabh Pant as a serious cricketer who looks to make an impact every time he walks onto the field.
Ponting compared his Test numbers to the legendary MS Dhoni to demonstrate Pant's incredible accomplishments.
"He doesn't just play to make a few runs and be out there for the fun of it. He must have 4 or 5 Test hundreds already and he's got about 9 90s as well. Dhoni played for 120 Tests (90) and made 3 or 4 hundreds (6), this is how good this guy ( Pant) is. He's a serious cricketer," said Ponting in the same interaction.
Pant boasts a sensational Test average of 43.67 with five centuries in only 33 appearances. Meanwhile, Dhoni finished his illustrious 90-match Test career with 4,876 runs at an average of 38.09 and six centuries.