Indian fast bowler Ishant Sharma has opined that he doesn’t think keeper-batter Rishabh Pant will be fit in time for the ICC World Cup 2023 which begins in India from October 5 onwards. Rishabh is currently in the NCA, rehabbing and recovering from his accident last year.
As common knowledge, Rishabh Pant was involved in a near-fatal accident last December in which his car was gutted in fire. Pant had suffered cuts on his forehead, a ligament tear in his right knee, and abrasions on his back. He also sustained injuries to his right wrist, ankle, and toe.
Pant spent a few days in Dehradun’s hospital where he underwent treatment for his burns and recuperated. Then the BCCI airlifted him to Mumbai’s Kokilaben Ambani hospital where he underwent surgery for ligament tear and other damage to his right knee.
After rehabbing at home for a few months, Pant has been in the National Cricket Academy (NCA) where he has been working on his strength and conditioning.
We Might Not See Rishabh Pant In The World Cup For Sure And Even In The Next IPL: Ishant Sharma
Veteran India pacer Ishant Sharma has said that wicket-keeping batter Rishabh Pant won’t be fit to play in the 2023 ODI World Cup for sure. This is despite the BCCI confirming that Pant has made a significant improvement in his recovery and has started batting and keeping wickets indoors.
“I feel we might not see Rishabh Pant in the next IPL as well because it is not a small injury. It was a very serious accident. He has just started batting and wicketkeeping and to run and turn after that, there are a lot of things, which is not easy for a wicketkeeper and a batter,” said Ishant on JioCinema.
“The good thing is that he didn’t have a second surgery. If he had undergone a second surgery, he would have been out for even longer. He has had one surgery now but I don’t think he will be fit for the World Cup for sure. Hopefully, if he gets fit for the IPL, it will be great,” Ishant added.
India will play Australia in their first match of the ICC World Cup 2023 in Chennai.