Former Indian legendary pacer Zaheer Khan has said that it will be very difficult for the star Indian wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant to make a place in the 2024 T20I World Cup. Rishabh Pant has almost recovered from his injury but Zaheer feels that Pant will have to face challenges to make a comeback even if he is fit.
Pant has been diligently working towards recovery since a serious car accident occurred on December 30, 2022. The incident resulted in several injuries, including a major knee injury that required ligament reconstruction surgery.
Despite facing challenges, Pant has displayed remarkable resilience, referring to the accident as his ‘second birth’ in social media updates. Under the BCCI’s supervision at the National Cricket Academy, his rehabilitation has yielded positive outcomes, marked by his return to batting practice and facing deliveries exceeding 140 mph.
While having a conversation with Colors Cineplex, Zaheer Khan said, “If you see Rishabh Pant’s journey, the turn he has gone through is not easy for any player. Firstly, everyone who is attached to cricket will be happy once he comes back on the field. He has a lot of hurdles to cross.”
Discussing the T20 World Cup 2024, Zaheer expressed that Pant faces challenges in making a swift comeback. The former pacer emphasized that proving fitness and form after a prolonged hiatus would take time. Zaheer believes that even a strong IPL performance might not guarantee Pant a spot in the T20 World Cup squad.
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“Firstly, he has to come back and play. It’s not easy at this level. You need to get used to it and get the rhythm back. Those things might take time. It’s great if it doesn’t. However, keeping all things in mind, even if he has a very good IPL, I don’t think the team will be thinking in that direction.”