Rishabh Pant to have huge impact in T20 World Cup: Ricky Ponting backs India star

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has picked Rishabh Pant to have a huge impact in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Pant recently returned to action in the Indian Premier League 2024 after recovering from multiple injuries, which he suffered in a horrific car accident. 

Pant scored 446 runs in 13 matches of IPL 2024 at an average of 40.55 and a strike rate of 155.40. As Pant was performing consistently in the IPL, he was picked by the selectors in the T20 World Cup squad. The left-hander batted at his best in the recently concluded season and he is going to hold the key in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Ponting has observed Pant from close quarters in the last few seasons and knows that he can turn the match on its head with his blistering batting.

“I was asked when I was over there what I thought about him. He’d been picked in the Indian squad, and I basically said he’d be one of the first players picked, and sure enough he was,” Ponting told the ICC Review.

“So, great to see him back out there playing again. I’ve enjoyed every moment of working with him. Obviously, he’s been the captain of the Delhi Capitals, and I’ve been the coach there. But it’s been a remarkable comeback, and hopefully he has a huge impact on this World Cup,” Ponting said.

Ponting said he was concerned with Pant’s wicket-keeping but had no doubts about the left-hander’s batting in IPL 2024.

“No one had real concerns about his batting, because of how good he is and how dynamic he is with the bat. But with his wicket-keeping, and having to squat every ball for 14 games in a row, there were certainly some concerns there,” Ponting added.

India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5th.