New Delhi: Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is reportedly said to return to the Ranji Trophy after a gap of seven years. Although the squad for Delhi’s upcoming fixture against Saurashtra in Rajkot is yet to be announced, Pant has confirmed his availability to Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).
Pant’s last Ranji match was in the 2017-18 final against Vidarbha, and interestingly, the left-handed batter, was the captain of Delhi back then. The team will be bolstered with Pant’s inclusion as Delhi are in contention to progress through the knockout rounds. Currently, they sit at jointly third position in Group D.
Ayush Badoni was appointed as Delhi’s Ranji captain, replacing Himmat Singh in the middle of the season after their nine-wicket defeat against Chandigarh. Delhi started with a draw under Badoni’s captaincy at their home ground in Kotla in the Jharkhand fixture. The team has managed only one win in five matches apart from three draws.
According to a report by Cricbuzz, Pant was offered the role to lead Delhi on his comeback to the premier domestic competition. But the Indian gloveman declined it as he felt Badoni should continue in the leadership role. The senior player was of the conviction that the captaincy change could disrupt the team’s balance.
However, Pant is ready to help the current Delhi captain with his inputs on the field and will take the responsibility as a keeper.
Pant was the captain of Delhi Capitals for three of the last four IPL seasons, but the player didn’t wanted the Delhi management to project him as a leader based on his franchise captaincy as he believed red-ball cricket has different dynamics altogether.
There is no confirmation over senior batter Virat Kohli’s inclusion in Delhi’s squad for their last two fixtures. Some reports have suggested that the former India captain sustained a neck sprain during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
Rishabh Pant’s last Ranji match was in the 2017-18 final against Vidarbha, and interestingly, the left-handed batter, was the captain of Delhi back then. The team will be bolstered with Pant’s inclusion as Delhi are in contention to progress through the knockout rounds. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
