T20 World Cup 2024 | "Hopefully he has a huge impact": Ponting on Rishabh Pant

Ricky Ponting (Pic: File Pic)

Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting labelled Rishabh Pant's comeback as "nothing short of spectacular". In the recently concluded IPL 2024, Rishabh Pant smashed 446 runs with an average of 40.54 and a strike rate of 155.40. Donning the big gloves, Pant registered 16 dismissals.

"It's been nothing short of spectacular, to be honest. I spent a few months with him in the middle of the IPL last year, which was only sort of three or four months after his accident. And I had grave fears then that he would never play the game again. What he'd been through psychologically, but what he'd been through physically. At that stage, he still couldn't walk," Ponting told The ICC Review.

"He was on crutches. And I remember saying to him, what do you think about next season? He just looked at me and said, don't worry, I'll be right. And he's looked after himself incredibly well. The Delhi Capitals franchise has done a great job looking after him. Patrick Farhart has been his physio. He's done a great job with him as well," the former Australia skipper added.

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With his efforts with the willow, what helped Rishabh Pant secure his place in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 was his keeping skills.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting said that the only concern with Rishabh Pant is how he would handle the wicket-keeping load.

"No one had real concerns about his batting, because of how good he is and how dynamic he is with the bat. But with his wicket-keeping, and having to squat every ball for 14 games in a row, there were certainly some concerns there," Ponting said.

With finishing the IPL 2024 with 16 dismissals, Rishabh Pant has his name registered for the joint-most wicketkeeping dismissals in a season.

On the back of his impressive showing behind and in front of the stumps, Pant was named in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad, as predicted by Ponting.

"I was asked when I was over there what I thought about him. He'd been picked in the Indian squad, and I basically said he'd be one of the first players picked, and sure enough he was," the Aussie legend said.

"So, great to see him back out there playing again. I've enjoyed every moment of working with him. Obviously, he's been the captain of the Delhi Capitals, and I've been the coach there. But it's been a remarkable comeback, and hopefully he has a huge impact on this World Cup," the 49-year-old concluded.

(With ANI Inputs)