In a big blow to Team India, Rishabh Pant is unlikely to return to the field in 2023. This means that Rishabh will not only miss World Test Championship (WTC) final and Indian Premier League (IPL) but ODI World Cup 2023 which will be hosted in India.
Sports Tak has learned that Rishabh will undergo another surgery in six weeks' time. The southpaw got severely injured in a car crash on December 30. He tore three key ligaments in his knee. For the reconstruction of the knee, Pant will undergo another surgery in February end or the first week of March. Later, another plastic surgery will be done which will be followed by rehabilitation.
On January 7, Pant underwent knee surgery at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital in Mumbai.
In the absence of the 25-year-old in-form Ishan Kishan has been added to India’s Test squad (which also includes KS Bharat) for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals (DC) are yet to announce their captain for the upcoming season of IPL.
"Rishabh Pant will not be available for the IPL. I am in connection with DC. It will be a great IPL. We will do well. Rishabh Pant's Injury will affect DC," the franchise's newly-appointed Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly had told reporters on January 10.
Pant’s absence will also mean that India will stick with KL Rahul as designated wicketkeeper-batter in the ODI format ahead of ODI World Cup 2023 later this year.
