Rishabh Pant Or David Warner? DC Co-Owner Confirms Captain For IPL 2024
David Warner led the Delhi Capitals team in the IPL 2023 season but Rishabh Pant will return to captain the side this time.
Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant has made a stunning recovery, having started playing cricket in full swing, for the first time since his accident in December 2022. Though international cricket still seems to be a little far for Pant, the wicket-keeper batter is all set to play for the Delhi Capitals in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. While Pant might not keep wickets for Delhi, he is likely to play as a pure batter. The franchise's co-owner Parth Jindal confirmed Pant's role for this season, saying the young star will be leading the DC franchise from the first match.
Wicket-keeping seems to be the only hurdle for Pant at present, with the 26-year-old not fit enough to keep wickets for 20 overs and bat too. Hence, the team plans to use him only as a pure batter this season. But, there's no plan of making David Warner the captain for another season.
"Rishabh is batting. He's running. He has started his wicketkeeping. He is likely to be fully fit for the IPL. I am expecting Rishabh to play IPL and he will lead from match one. First seven games, we are going to play him only as a batter, and depending on how his body reacts, we will take a call for the rest of the IPL," Jindal said while speaking to ESPN Cricinfo.
There were fitness concerns about South African pacer Anrich Nortje too, but Jindal said he too will be able to feature in the opening game.
"He's fit. Right now, he is bowing at 80% intensity. Next week, he will bowl at 100%. He's going to make his comeback in the IPL. He is going to join our camp and should be good to go for our first game," Jindal added.
Jindal also spoke highly of England star Harry Brook, banking on his ability to play at the No. 6 spot. Jindal was also delighted to see Mitchell Marsh, another Delhi Capitals star, taking the role of Australia's T20I captain.
"We feel very confident, the balance of the team is a lot better with Rishabh coming back in. We have a very good squad and a lot of options with players like Tristan Stubbs, who had a phenomenal SA20 (with SA20 2024 champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape), and Mitch Marsh becoming captain of Australia's T20I team," he said.
