The news of Rishabh Pant’s injury and subsequent withdrawal from the 2023 ODI World Cup has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world.
Pant, who is considered one of the brightest young talents in Indian cricket, was expected to play a crucial role in the team’s World Cup campaign.
Pant was returning home from Delhi for the New Year when he was involved in a car accident that resulted in a ligament tear in his right knee. He was initially treated at Max Hospital in Dehradun before being airlifted to Mumbai for further treatment.
According to a BCCI source, Pant will require a minimum of 8-9 months to recover from the injury, which means he will not only miss the World Cup but also the entire IPL season, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, and the 2023 Asia Cup. This is a major blow for both Pant and the Indian team, as the young wicketkeeper-batter had established himself as a key member of the side in recent years.
The Indian cricket board is yet to announce a replacement for Pant in the World Cup squad, but it is likely that they will look to one of the other talented wicketkeeper-batter in the domestic circuit to fill the void left by Pant’s absence.
The 2023 ODI World Cup, which will be the first edition to be entirely played in India, is scheduled to take place in October this year. It is sure to be a highly competitive tournament, with all the top teams in the world vying for the coveted trophy. Despite the loss of Pant, the Indian team will no doubt be determined to put in a strong performance and make their home advantage count.