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Michael Clarke Hopeful Of Pant’s T20 World Cup Comeback After IPL 2024 Exploits

Aakash Saini

Rishabh Pant in action during IPL 2024 for Delhi Capitals (BCCI)Rishabh Pant in action during IPL 2024 for Delhi Capitals (BCCI)

Rishabh Pant celebrated his return to competitive cricket this IPL 2024 season with a couple of blistering half-centuries against CSK and KKR in successive games. The dashing wicketkeeper-batsman, who sustained a near-fatal car crash back in December 2022, continues to look in good nick as he preps himself for a possible comeback to India’s international setup.

With a T20 World Cup nearby, former Australian captain and active commentator Michael Clarke believes that Pant might well be making his return to the Indian team soon.

Michael Clarke hopeful of Rishabh Pant’s return

Rishabh Pant punched out a rebellious 25-ball 55 against KKR, albeit in a losing cause for Delhi Capitals. The 26-year-old also drove his team to an emphatic victory over CSK last week with a counterattacking 32-ball 51.

With Pant gaining some batting rhythm on his return with back-to-back half-centuries, former Australian captain Michael Clarke praised the Delhi Capitals skipper for his hard work and recovery efforts. While speaking at the Star Sports Network, the cricketer-turned-commentator said:

“Yeah, look it's great for Indian cricket, but it's also great for Rishabh Pant. I think the work that has gone into his rehab to get back to that level of play at any standard is an amazing achievement. He deserves a lot of credit for his hard work and it's great to see him on the field, captaining and playing well, batting and keeping.”

Michael Clarke further added that Rishabh Pant is a “wonderful player” and fans are eagerly waiting for his comeback to Team India’s international setup. Clarke stated:

“I saw the Delhi physio run out to the field a couple of times to check on him, so hopefully he's pulled out okay, the positives are in the presentation he said he was fine and hopefully a day off or a couple of days off and he will be ready for the next game. He's a wonderful player and everybody is happy that he's back on the field and we want to see him play for Delhi, but we also want to see him come back and play for India as soon as possible.”

Under the leadership of Rishabh Pant, the Delhi Capitals have coped three defeats out of their four matches so far. As of now, the Capitals are placed at number nine on the 10-team IPL 2024 points table.

Pant and co. will now face cellar-dwellers Mumbai Indians in match number 20 of the tournament on April 7. The much-awaited contest will be staged at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.