Doubt over Pant playing IPL: Sources said – Fitness clearance not received from NCA; Delhi did not even keep him in the squad

Rishabh Pant could not play IPL last year also.

Rishabh Pant has not yet got fitness clearance to play IPL. Delhi Capitals had asked for Pant's fitness report, but till now the team management has not received any response from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). IPL will start from 22nd March.

According to Dainik Bhaskar sources, Pant has not yet received the certificate of passing the fitness test from BCCI. For this reason there is doubt about his playing IPL. National Cricket Academy (NCA) experts do not consider Pant fit to play the match.

When Dainik Bhaskar asked Pant's team Delhi Capitals about this, they did not deny it and only said that there is no information about it yet.

Pant is not even included in Delhi's squad
If sources are to be believed, Delhi Capitals has not yet included Rishabh Pant in its squad due to not getting fitness clearance. However, the team management can request BCCI to keep Pant in the squad as an extra player.

Rishabh Pant had posted a video of him keeping wickets a few days ago.

Ganguly had said- report will be received on March 5
Delhi Capitals (DC) cricket director Sourav Ganguly had said in an interview that Pant is fit and can play IPL. NCA will give his fitness report on March 5. However, Pant's report did not come out even till March 9.

Co-owner of Delhi Capitals had also said – Pant will captain
DC team co-owner Parth Jindal had also said that Pant will play the initial matches of IPL. He will not do wicketkeeping in the first half. He has started batting, he is also doing wicketkeeping. He will be fit before IPL.

Pant is away from cricket since December 2022
Pant has been away from cricket since playing the Test series against Bangladesh in December 2022. He had an accident on 31 December 2022 while going from Delhi to Roorkee. After which he underwent three surgeries on the knee of his right leg. He is recovering at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

Pant played in a practice match organized by NCA in Bengaluru last week. He batted in this. He has also batted in the nets with Team India.

Rishabh Pant had an accident on 31 December 2022 while going from Delhi to Roorkee.

Pant posted a video while keeping wickets
Pant had posted a video on Instagram a few days ago while doing wicketkeeping and exercising. He was also seen batting and fielding in the 20-over training match of NCA.

Delhi Capitals will play 2 home ground matches in Visakhapatnam.
Delhi Capitals team will play its first two matches on home ground in Visakhapatnam. Actually, 11 matches including the playoff of the Women's Premier League (WPL) are to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Due to which Delhi Capitals had to shift two of their home matches to Visakhapatnam.

Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting (left) had also said that Pant is confident to play IPL.