A couple of days after Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting expressed his keenness to have the services of star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant in the forthcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the BCCI’s medical team has on Tuesday cleared the southpaw’s return to competitive cricket, via the IPL. Meanwhile, fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Prasidh Krishna, have both been ruled out of the cash-rich tournament, starting March 22.

The BCCI’s medical team, however, did not release an update on star batter KL Rahul, the designated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain. Rahul has been out of action after suffering a quadricep tendon injury during the first Test against England in January.

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The BCCI also said that Prasidh, who underwent surgery on February 23 on his left proximal quadriceps tendon, is set to begin his recovery at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. For Shami, who recently was operated on for a heel issue, there is no return date set. The national cricket board’s medical team is monitoring his progress.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah had on Monday told media that Pant was “batting well and keeping well”, and depending on his performance in the IPL, he could also be in the running for a place in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup in June.

“If he can keep, he can play in the World Cup. Let’s see how he does in the IPL,” Shah said.

Expressing his keenness to have the services of the star wicketkeeper-batter back, Ponting had said he’s not only looking from the franchise’s lenses but wants the Uttarakhand cricketer to be back on the field. Pant’s absence has also been felt in the national team’s dressing room, with India struggling to find their balance while losing a swashbuckling asset with the bat.

“I’m very hopeful, not from a selfish point of view as the coach of the Delhi Capitals, but I want to see him back playing cricket again. I think the whole world wants to see him back playing cricket again and just playing with that youthful exuberance that he has. If he does that, then I know he’ll win some games for Delhi and we’ll have a good time along the way this season,” he said.

“Knowing Rishabh, it probably won’t (take time to adjust) because he’s such a natural talent and just knowing the sort of person that he is, I don’t think he’ll be awed. I don’t think he’ll be scared by the comeback. The fact that he’s missed 15 months of cricket, I don’t think it’ll faze him too much,” he added.

Pant had last played senior cricket in December 2022 before suffering a near fatal car crash that left him with a severe right knee injury and required a ligament reconstruction surgery, besides a fractured wrist and ankle.

Out of action for nearly 14 months, now that the BCCI’s medical team has given him the go-ahead, the southpaw might return to action as early as March 23, when Delhi Capitals travel to Mohali to take on Punjab Kings in their opening fixture of IPL 2024.

In February, Pant took the field for the first time after the crash, and batted in a 20-over practice game in Alur, Karnataka, under the supervision of NCA physios and trainers. The NCA people were satisfied with his endurance level while batting but advised him to start wicketkeeping in March.

With the BCCI’s medical team now clearing Pant for both aspects of his game, it will be interesting to see whether he performs both his roles for the Capitals’ or the team management allows him to play as a specialist batter atleast for the first half of the tournament.

No timeline for return of Shami, Prasidh

The BCCI’s medical team has made it clear that the fast bowling duo of Mohammed Shami and Prasidh Krishna will be out of the IPL, and did not give a timeline of their possible return to action. Shami’s absence from the IPL will be a big blow to the Gujarat Titans, as the right-arm seamer picked up 28 wickets in IPL 2023 and won the purple cap for the side as they finished runners-up to Chennai Super Kings.

Shami had last played competitive cricket at the ODI World Cup final, and battled pain in his ankle during the tournament. The Bengal pacer took injections to treat his ankle, and despite that ended up with the most wickets at the showpiece event.

In February, he had undergone a surgery to correct his ankle, and was subsequently ruled out of the IPL, and as of now looks a doubtful starter for the T20 World Cup in June.

As far as Prasidh is concerned, it will be the second successive season that the lanky pacer will miss the IPL due to an injury. Prasidh, who took 19 scalps from 17 appearances for the Rajasthan Royals in 2022 was instrumental in guiding his side to the final that season. The Karnataka pacer picked up his latest injury during a Ranji game this season.