NEW DELHI: Last week, India’s star wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant delighted fans as he took to the nets at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium. Sporting a black T-shirt and shorts, he showcased his skills, confidently handling throwdowns.
During the net session, the 26-year-old executed some cover drives and his signature straight-down-the-ground hits, leaving onlookers with ample reasons to be optimistic.Already named Delhi Capitals‘ captain for IPL 2024 and eyeing a comeback following a horrific car accident in late 2022, Pant is not just aiming for a successful return to the cash-rich league but also to international cricket, especially the T20 World Cup. The mega tournament is scheduled to take place from June 4 to 30 this year, hosted jointly by the West Indies and the United States.
But can he make it to the T20 World Cup squad with just five months to go? If fit, should he be considered ahead of KL Rahul?
Former India cricketer Suresh Raina feels Pant’s presence will bolster team’s batting and the 26-year-old should don the ‘keeping gloves if he makes it to the squad.

“Absolutely. He should be considered. He is a game-changer. He has done that in the past. He has been a great player in white-ball cricket,” Raina told TimesofIndia.com in an interview.
“But his fitness would come into the picture. It depends on how fit KL Rahul will be by the time the World Cup arrives and his form will also matter. If Rishabh is fit, he should be in the World Cup team,” he said.
Pant’s last appearance for India was in a Test match against Bangladesh in December 2022 in Mirpur.
Pant has played 33 Tests, 30 ODIs and 66 T20Is so far for India.