T20 World Cup 2024: 'Nothing Short of Spectacular' - Ricky Ponting on Rishabh Pant's Remarkable Comeback

Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting is hopeful Rishabh Pant has a good impact at the T20 World Cup 2024 and labelled the wicketkeeper-batter's remarkable comeback after a major car accident as "nothing short of spectacular."

The swashbuckling left-hander, who missed action last year, scored 446 runs at an average of 40.54 and a strike-rate of 155.40 in the bygone IPL 2024, in which he also claimed a joint-high 16 dismissals with the gloves.

Many believed that it would take a lot of time before Pant returns to action. While he spent a good year and two months out of action after the accident, the wicketkeeper made a roaring comeback to professional cricket.

And the former Australian captain Ponting said he had feared the DC captain would never play the game again as he recalled the meeting between the two nearly a year ago during IPL 2023.

"It's been nothing short of spectacular, to be honest. I spent a few months with him in the middle of the IPL last year, which was only sort of three or four months after his accident," Ponting told The ICC Review.

"And I had grave fears then that he would never play the game again. What he'd been through psychologically, but what he'd been through physically. At that stage, he still couldn't walk."

The DC head coach also revealed their discussion at that time about plans for the 2024 season and credited the franchise's physio Patrick Farhart for doing a great job in getting Pant back on the field.

"He was on crutches. And I remember saying to him, what do you think about next season? He just looked at me and said, don't worry, I'll be right. And he's looked after himself incredibly well," the former Australia skipper added.

"The Delhi Capitals franchise has done a great job looking after him. Patrick Farhart has been his physio. He's done a great job with him as well."

While no one doubted Pant's ability with the bat, which were eye-catching, many were sceptical about his wicketkeeping due to the physical impact on one's body from squatting for 20 overs.

"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.

On the back of his impressive showing with the bat and the gloves, Pant was named in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad, as predicted by Ponting, who never doubted about the DC captain's spot in the team.

"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," the Aussie legend said.

"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," the 49-year-old concluded.