IPL 2024: Rishabh Pant is cleared by BCCI to play as wicketkeeper- batter.

Rishabh Pant has been cleared to keep wickets for Delhi Capitals at IPL 2024 by the BCCI’s fitness and medical teams. Fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Prasidh Krishna, though, have both been ruled out of the tournament.

There is, however, no update on KL Rahul, the designated Lucknow Super Giants captain. He hasn’t featured since the first Test with England in January due to a quadriceps tendon injury.

Prasidh is going to start his rehabilitation in the National Cricket Academy, Bengaluru, after undergoing surgery on the left proximal quadriceps tendon on February 23, the BCCI stated. No return date has been set for Shami, who recently had a heel operation. His health has been looked after by the medical staff of BCCI.

Pant received the latest information a day after the BCCI secretary Jay Shah informed the media that Pant was batting well and keeping well and could be considered for India’s T20 World Cup squad in June.

“It could mean a lot to us in case he plays for us at the T20 World Cup.” Shah stated that he is a significant asset for the organization. “He can play the World Cup if he can keep. “We’ll find out how he does his job in the IPL.”

Pant, who last played senior cricket in December 2022, suffered a severe right knee injury which required a ligament reconstruction surgery, besides a broken wrist as well as ankle in the automobile crash. Now with the BCCI’s green signal, Pant might return to action as early as March 23, when Delhi Capitals travel to Mohali to take on Punjab Kings in their opening fixture.

In February 2024, Pant began match-simulation exercises in Bengaluru, and even played a 20-over practice game in Alur, Karnataka, under the supervision of NCA physios and trainers. Pant was believed to have felt no discomfort during his 20 overs of batting at the time, and his endurance levels were thought to have been satisfactory to the people watching him. Pant failed to keep wickets during that time and was told to resume that part of his training in March.

Last month, Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal had announced Pant as the captain for IPL 2024 and said that Pant would play as a batter alone for the first half of the season. Jindal had previously stated he would make a call for the remainder of the IPL based on his body reaction.

No return date yet for Shami and Prasidh

Shami’s complete unavailability will have come as a big blow to Gujarat Titans, who will be led by Shubman Gill after Hardik Pandya returned to Mumbai Indians. In IPL 2023 Shami took 28 wickets for Titans who finished runners-up to Chennai Super Kings and won the purple cap.

Shami made one last appearance in the ODI World Cup final. Playing through pain during the tournament while taking injections to treat his ankle, Shami ended up with the most wickets at the World Cup.

In January 2024, Shami had stated he aimed to return for the Test series against England, but was subsequently ruled from the whole Test series along with the IPL following ankle surgery in February. Additionally, he is also not likely to be fit for the T20 World Cup.

For Rajasthan Royals, it will be a second season without Prasidh. He missed out with injury in 2023 too. Prasidh picked up his latest injury during the Ranji Trophy season while representing Karnataka. The Royals relied heavily on him in IPL 2022, where he has taken 19 wickets in seventeen games, that had been vital in their run to the final that season.