Rishabh Pant, captain of the Delhi Capitals (DC), will make his IPL 2024 return against the Punjab Kings on Saturday, March 23, after missing up to 15 months.
Pant was involved in a catastrophic vehicle accident in December 2022 and had to go through extensive rehabilitation to have a shot at a comeback. While missing so much cricket during his peak should have been frustrating, Pant learned to find satisfaction in the smallest of things during this time.
In an Instagram video shared by the Delhi Capitals, Rishabh Pant revealed a mantra he learned from former Indian superstar wicketkeeper MS Dhoni. He said:
“Mahi bhai has a dialogue. ‘Focus on the poor subject. It’s a part of the journey.’ I need to enjoy the journey as well, right? When I go to practice, I need to get a feel of the bat. When I keep wickets, I want to know how the ball feels in the gloves when I collect it. If we start enjoying these small things, the positivity increases in life.”
Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant has been vocal about how the recovery process and the gradual return to normalcy helped him get a new perspective on life.
Rishabh Pant Expresses Gratitude for Return to Cricket Amidst Challenging Times
Rishabh Pant revealed how he felt when he joined the Capitals for their IPL 2024 preparation camp in Vizag. Pant was intrigued by the sense of being able to play freely again.
On this, he said:
“You cannot describe that feeling (of being back). You just get mesmerized by something. I didn’t feel like I was playing for the first time, but it also didn’t feel like I had been playing for a while. It was just a different feeling and energy and I enjoyed it.”
Rishabh Pant
After winning the toss, Shikhar Dhawan chose to bat first for Delhi Capitals. All eyes will be on Rishabh Pant, awaiting his impact in his first major innings since returning. A straightforward decision, its implications generate curiosity.