Delhi Capitals are in need of a temporary captain as Rishabh will miss the entire or at least the first half of IPL 2023. While he has no broken bones or significant internal injuries after a horrific accident on Friday morning, the ligament tear will keep him out of DC captain for close to six months. David Warner being the most senior player with captaincy experience would take up the mantle. IPL 2023: David Warner next captain of Delhi Capitals.
Manish Pandey is also an option but given he has just joined the squad, it is unlikely. In any case, DC will wait till close to the tournament to announce the captaincy. The dashing wicketkeeper-batter survived with a stroke of luck and help from good samaritans. As he fell asleep while driving, his speeding car hit the railing and caught fire. IPL 2023: David Warner next captain for Delhi Capitals
Rishabh Pant has sustained two cuts on his forehead besides superficial injuries on his back. But it’s the ligament tear on his knee that will keep him out of action for at least 3 months. It could take more depending on the severity.
“Pant will take at least three to six months to recover from ligament injury. And if it’s severe, he may take more time. Further evaluation can be based on his detailed injury report,” Dr Qamar Azam head of sports injury department at AIIMS-Rishikesh.
In Delhi Capitals, Prithvi Shaw, Manish Pandey besides Mitchell Marsh have captaincy experience. But David Warner having successfully led Sunrisers Hyderabad to IPL title and Australia, he is the prime candidate. Warner is also one of the most experienced players in the squad. If Pant does miss out of the IPL 2023 completely, Warner will return to captaincy duty after a lengthy gap.
SRH dropped him as the captain in IPL 2021 citing poor form. But he has since roared back in form and has answered his critics. InsideSport understands that Delhi Capitals do not want to take any call at the moment as the focus is on Rishabh’s recovery. When the time comes and he doesn’t fully recover, DC will make the official change. Interestingly, Pant took over as full-time DC captain after Shreyas Iyer missed out with a shoulder injury. He was then made full-time captain.
Rishabh Pant Accident Timeline
• Rishabh Pant sets off for Roorkee to surprise his mother with a New Year’s eve visit
• The 25-year-old falls asleep behind the wheel and crashes into a barricade on the Dehradun Highway
• He then escapes a falling car with the help of locals and is taken to Saksham Hospital in Roorkee.
• Pant is later shifted to Max Hospital in Dehradun for specialist treatment.
• The 25-year-old suffers two cuts on the forehead, back and wrist injuries. Damage to the knee and ankle also done.
• He undergoes plastic surgery for abrasions and wounds. BCCI holds off ligament treatment.
• His brain and spinal cord MRI results returned normal. Scans for his ankle and knee are scheduled for Saturday.
• Following the observation, Pant will travel to Delhi for further plastic surgery on his injuries.
• However, BCCI too doesn’t want to rule Pant out of IPL 2023 so soon. While he is certainly out of the Australia Test series, BCCI believes it is too early to take a call on his participation.
“He just had this accident. He is receiving treatment now. It’s too early to say anything. Let him rest and come out in sound health. Once he completes his recovery, he will report to the NCA for a thorough assessment. As per doctors, he is out for 6 months. But he is yet to undergo a proper injury analysis. We will take a call when the time comes. BCCI medical team is in touch with the doctors,” a senior BCCI official told.
Delhi Capitals Squad IPL 2023: Rishabh Pant (c), David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Ripal Patel, Rovman Powell, Sarfaraz Khan, Yash Dhull, Mitchell Marsh, Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Khaleel Ahmed, Lungi Ngidi, Mustafizur Rahman, Aman Khan, Kuldeep Yadav, Praveen Dubey, Vicky Ostwal, Ishant Sharma, Phil Salt, Mukesh Kumar, Manish Pandey, Rilee Rossouw.
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