Rishabh Pant unavailable for IPL this year: Ganguly

Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant had an accident last month on December 30 due to which the cricketer suffered many injuries and his car burst into flames.

Now as per the latest development, former Indian skipper and BCCI chief Sourov Ganguly has confirmed that Pant won’t be playing in the upcoming season of Indian Premier League (IPL) owing to the injuries he has sustained and he would need more time for recovery.

Ganguly who will be joining Delhi Capitals as the new director of cricket had said, “Rishabh Pant will not be available for the IPL.”

He added, “It will be a great IPL (for the team), we will do well but Rishabh Pant’s injury will affect the Delhi Capitals.”

Rishabh Pant is the captain of the Delhi Capitals and this year’s IPL will be starting in late March or early April.

The 25-year-old cricketer was admitted to a hospital in Uttarkhand after being rescued by the locals and was later airlifted from there to Mumbai for his knee surgery and further treatment.

The Indian cricket board in a statement had said that Rishabh Pant suffered several injuries due to the car crash, including a damaged ligament in his right knee, a hurt wrist and ankle, and abrasions on his back.

Even though Pant is on his way to recovery, he will be missing quite a bit of cricket in the first half of this year. He is left out of the ongoing India and Sri Lanka T20 and ODI match series and now it seems like he would be missing out on New Zealand’s tour to India which will be happening in mid-January as well as Australia’s upcoming tour to India which is slated to happen In February and March. India and Australia will be playing four Test matches. His inclusion in the Indian squad post the IPL will also be subject to his fitness and recovery post the accident.