Rishabh Pant Ignored MS Dhoni As He Named This Legendary Keeper His ‘All-Time’ Idol

The 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is about to start soon, and fans are eagerly awaiting the return of wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant. After being sidelined for over a year, Pant is finally cleared by the BCCI medical team to participate in the tournament. His first game is scheduled for March 23, when Delhi Capitals will take on Punjab Kings. This will mark Pant’s first competitive appearance since December 2022.

Pant had faced a horrific car accident in December 2022

Pant had faced a tough time recovering from a horrific car accident in December 2022, which occurred after the Test series against Bangladesh. He sustained injuries and underwent knee surgery, spending considerable time recuperating at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Unfortunately, this meant missing out on major cricket events in 2023, including the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup. However, Pant remained determined to regain full fitness during his recovery.

In a recent appearance on the Club Prairie Fire Podcast, Pant revealed his admiration for legendary Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist. He expressed his appreciation for Gilchrist’s on-field performance in both batting and wicket keeping. Pant fondly recalled meeting Gilchrist for the first time in Australia, describing it as an amazing experience.

Rishabh Pant Ignored MS Dhoni’s name as his favourite wicket keeper and named Adam Gilchrist ‘one of his all-time cricketing idols’.

He said “Everyone knows. See. I think he (Gilchrist)has been an inspiration for me. As a kid, I used to watch him a lot, He was someone I used to… pic.twitter.com/Gxaq5c47AS

— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952_) March 15, 2024

Despite his excitement to return to the cricket field, Pant confessed to feeling nervous. He acknowledged that while it’s enjoyable to chat and have fun off the field, stepping onto the field creates a different atmosphere. Pant admitted to feeling nervousness as a normal part of the game but emphasised his focus on staying positive and having fun every day.

So, Rishabh Pant’s upcoming return to IPL 2024 is eagerly anticipated by fans after his extended absence due to injury. Despite the challenges he faced during recovery, Pant remains determined and excited to make his comeback. His admiration for cricketing idol Adam Gilchrist and his positive mindset reflect his readiness to embrace the challenges ahead on the cricket field.