All You Need To Know About Rishabh Pant's DC Replacement Abhishek Porel

image-lfuud5i6Abhishek Porel [Source: Twitter]

In a remarkable turn of events, the IPL franchise Delhi Capitals named Abhishek Porel as the replacement player for Rishabh Pant for the IPL 2023. Notably, Pant was ruled out of the tournament after sustaining multiple injuries from a car accident on New Year's eve. So, the Capitals were searching for not only their captain but also an Indian keeper-batter to fill Pant's void in the side. 

While they chose swashbuckling Australian batter David Warner to lead them this season, Porel joined the franchise as their wicket-keeper for the showpiece event. 

So, before Delhi Capitals begin their IPL 2023 campaign, let's have a look at their most recent recruit, Abhishek Porel. 


Career at a glance

image-lfuug2i8Porel has been an integral part of Bengal's domestic setup [Source: Twitter]

Regarded as one of the most promising domestic talents, Porel made his domestic debut in a Ranji Trophy encounter against Baroda in February last year. Since then, the 22-year-old has established himself as a vital cog in Bengal's domestic setup across formats. 

The stylish batter has enjoyed decent success in First-Class cricket, garnering 695 runs, including six fifties, at an average of 30.21. He has also showcased his neat glove work behind the stumps, executing 58 catches and eight stumpings in 16 appearances. 

However, the youngster hasn't got enough chances in the shortest format, scoring 22 runs in only three T20 outings. 

So, it's pretty evident that the DC management was impressed by his exploits in the Ranji Trophy 2022-23, where he played some gutsy cricket to amass 336 runs. 


What can Porel offer to Delhi Capitals?

With David Warner slotted at the top and Rishabh Pant being unavailable, DC will need a left-handed batter in the middle order. 

Although they have Rilee Rossouw, the franchise's desire for an Indian option is understandable, as they can play only four overseas players in a match. In such a scenario, Porel, being a left-handed batter, was the perfect pick for the Capitals to replace Pant. 


IPL 2023: A golden opportunity for the youngster

Playing an IPL season is a dream for every Indian youngster aspiring to pursue cricket as his career. So, a wild card entry into the IPL 2023 comes as a golden opportunity for Porel, who must capitalise on it to evolve as a cricketer. Whether he will get a game is a different debate, but he should focus on learning during his stay in the Capitals' camp.