Here's How DC Aims to Keep Rishabh Pant Alive in Memory During IPL
Delhi Capitals to honour Rishabh Pant with symbolic representation during IPL 2023
Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting has revealed that the franchise is exploring ways to incorporate injured star player and their captain Rishabh Pant into the team for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season.
Pant suffered multiple injuries in a severe accident on New Year's Eve and has been ruled out of any cricketing action for the foreseeable future. However, Ponting has stated that the team is considering various options to ensure that the southpaw remains an integral part of the team's ethos and spirit, despite being unable to participate in the games.
During a recent press conference, the Australian suggested that the players could wear shirts and caps with Pant's number on them as a symbolic representation of his importance as the team's leader and the heart and soul of the Delhi Capitals.
He further emphasized that he wants to ensure that the young wicketkeeper-batsman is recognized and acknowledged as a crucial team member by both the players and fans.
“His number might be on each of our playing shirts or his number might be on our caps, just so you know, for the players to understand that he’s the heart and soul of the Delhi Capitals, he’s a Delhi boy, he’s our leader but he’s not with us,” Ponting said.
Ponting also expressed his desire to have Pant sitting next to him in the dugout for every home game, if possible.
"But as I’ve said, in an ideal world for me, and I said this couple of weeks ago, he’s going to be sitting next to me in the dugout for every home game this season,” added the legendary batsman.
However, he reckoned that if this is not feasible, the team will find other ways to ensure that their star player remains involved in their activities and morale.
Pant has been an essential member of the DC team since 2017. He was named captain in 2021, leading the team during the absence of Shreyas Iyer, who is now a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders.
DC is set to play its first match against the Lucknow Super Giants on April 1 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. In Pant's absence, Australian cricketer David Warner will lead the team for the upcoming cricketing extravaganza.
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