I feel we might not see Rishabh Pant in the next IPL: Ishant Sharma

Star Indian wicketkeeper, Rishabh Pant, is recovering from injuries he suffered last year in December after his car met with an accident. Pant has started batting and keeping in the nets after undergoing a major surgery in May 2023. He is currently following a proper fitness routine as per the latest BCCI medical report. 

It looks like the 25-year-old Pant is set to miss the 2023 ODI World Cup after missing this year's Indian Premier League (IPL). Veteran Indian pacer Ishant Sharma, when asked about his opinion on Pant’s comeback, feels that the left-handed batter still needs to recover more and may miss the next year's IPL as well.

The good thing is that Rishabh Pant didn't have a second surgery: Ishant Sharma

"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 Jio Cinema. 

“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," he further added. 

In any case, Pant’s recovery is crucial for both the Delhi Capitals (DC) and the Men in Blue. In IPL 2023, in his absence, David Warner led the side, and eventually DC’s side finished in the second-last position. However, on the Indian side, Pant’s space has been more or less taken by Ishan Kishan in limited-overs cricket, but the problem still exists in filling his shoes in Test cricket. 

Especially after the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 defeat, Indian management is looking ahead with Kishan in all formats, as KS Bharat was dropped and not picked in either Tests of the West Indies (WI) tour. Speaking of the 2nd Test of the WI series, the Rohit Sharma-led side, after winning the first game of the series, were bowled out for 438 runs, whereas after the stumps on Day 3, WI were on 229/5.