‘I absolutely love the bloke’ – Ricky Ponting desires to have Rishabh Pant in Delhi dugout even if latter is unfit

Rishabh Pant, the Indian batter, met with an accident on December 30, 2022, and the batter is recovering in Mumbai at present. For the unversed, Pant will be out of competitive cricket for at least until late 2023 and Ricky Ponting, the head coach of the Delhi franchise from the Indian T20 League expressed his desire to have the southpaw around him even if he is unfit. 

The former Australian cricketer claimed that the Indian star has the world at his feet and added that he is an infectious guy who is loved by everyone around the world. Further, Ponting claimed that Pant has the attitude of a captain which can affect the entire dugout in a positive way as he expressed that he would love to have him even if he is not fit by the time the Indian T20 League starts. 

It remains to be seen if he would make a comeback prior to the start of the 50-over World Cup set to take place in India later this year, although reports suggest that he would still not be fit by then. However, one could predict and understand that Pant would make a roaring comeback once the chaos settles down. 

I absolutely love the bloke: Ricky Ponting

During the Cricket’s governing body review show, Ponting said that it would be vital for the Delhi team to have him around if possible and added that it would be a booster for the other players. Further, the legendary Australian cricketer said that it would be a scary time for anyone after going through such a disgraceful accident. 

“I absolutely love the bloke, I told him that on the phone the last couple of days. It was a horrifying time, a really scary time for everybody, let alone him. Anyone that knows him loves him – he’s a really infectious young guy that has the world at his feet still,” Ponting was quoted as saying in Cricket’s governing body review show. 

“So we will keep our fingers crossed and hope that he can get back to playing sooner rather than later. You can’t replace those guys, simple as that. They don’t grow on trees, players like that. We’ve got to look at – and we already are – a replacement to come into the squad, a wicketkeeper-batsman,” said the 48-year-old further. 

“I want him sitting beside me in the dugout every day of the week. If he’s actually not physically fit enough to play, we’d still love to have him around. He’s the sort of cultural leader around the group, being the captain, and that attitude and infectious smile and laugh he has is what we all love so much about him,” he added.