Delhi Capitals Brace for IPL 2024, Opener Without Rishabh Pant at Home

The fervent supporters of Delhi Capitals may face a delay in witnessing their star player and captain, Rishabh Pant, in action as the team prepares to play its first two home matches of IPL 2024 away from the familiar grounds of Arun Jaitley Stadium.

The upcoming season of the Indian Premier League kicks off on March 22, with defending champions Chennai Super Kings facing off against Royal Challengers Bangalore in a much-anticipated clash at MA Chidambaram Stadium. While the schedule until April 7 has been confirmed, further fixtures are pending due to the upcoming Lok Sabha Polls.

Delhi Capitals will be hosting their home games in Vizag on March 31 and April 3, respectively against CSK and Kolkata Knight Riders. This relocation is necessary as the Arun Jaitley Stadium will be unavailable after hosting the Women’s Premier League final on March 17.

In an unprecedented move, Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals will initiate their campaigns with a double-header on March 23, while Kolkata Knight Riders commence theirs at home. As Pant gears up for his comeback, his participation as a wicketkeeper and captain remains uncertain. Despite undergoing match-simulation exercises in Bengaluru to regain fitness after a near-fatal car accident in December 2022, his role in the upcoming IPL season remains ambiguous.

Joined by Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya in a practice game in Karnataka, Pant is undergoing rigorous conditioning drills, indicating positive progress. However, with just six weeks until the first game, Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting remains cautiously optimistic about Pant’s return, emphasizing that any contribution from the 26-year-old will be invaluable to the team.