Indians and cricket fans around the world were all shocked when the news of Rishabh Pant’s accident broke a few weeks ago. The talented batsman and wicketkeeper will be out of action for a very long time. But what does it mean for sports betting? Let’s take a closer look at things and break it down.
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What Really Happened?
It all happened on December 30, 2022, when Rishabh Pant drove around in one of his luxury cars. When the vehicle was on the Delhi-Dehradun highway, it suddenly went off track, collided with the road divider, and broke into flames. While it took him just a few days to get back online, it was understood that he had suffered multiple injuries and we are not going to see him back in action for a while.
The diagnosis is quite shocking. On top of the typical cuts and bruises common in these kinds of road accidents, Pant has a serious knee injury with multiple ligament damage. The operation, as far as we know, was successful.
Doctors have officially announced that there is no brain and spinal damage, but they predict a long and challenging recovery process, which is expected to take more than a year. The implications are clear – Pant won’t be taking part in IPL 2023 and probably also next year’s edition. He will also miss out on the prestigious ODI World Cup that is scheduled for late 2023 on Indian soil.
Will the Door Finally Open for Sanju Samson?
The extended absence of Rishabh Pant means that the Indian national team will have to make some severe adjustments. KL Rahul will immediately become the first-choice wicketkeeper and bat lower in the order. While Shubman Gill will become the new opener alongside Rohit Sharma. Gill is already making the most of his chance with some brilliant knocks on the international stage.
But with the Dinesh Karthik experiment officially over, the more important development is that Sanju Samson will become a regular on Team India’s squads. KL Rahul is currently in a huge batting slump and if things don’t change fast, Samson can soon find himself in the starting lineup. Keep an eye on this exciting power struggle as we approach the 2023 World Cup.
Can the Delhi Capitals Cope With the Loss?
Things get messier for the Delhi Capitals, who have lost their biggest star. This is a very tough situation for the team that relies heavily on Pant’s batting prowess. Coach Ricky Pointing has confirmed that Pant will be with the team during IPL 2023. But he obviously won’t be active. Whatever the Capitals do to fix the situation, it’s safe to say they will not be a Top4 team this season.
British Phil Salt is expected to be the first-choice wicketkeeper this year. And the team is now looking for batting reinforcements in the free agency pool. Sachin baby, Priyam Garg, Baba Indrajit, and Sheldon Jackson are currently on the shortlist.
So, if you planned on punting on Delhi Capitals to reach the playoffs or maybe even winning the IPL, then those chances have heavily decreased.
Summing Things Up
Like him or not, Rishabh Pant is a dominant figure in Indian cricket and his absence will impact Cricket Betting. The Rishabh Pant accident will most likely affect the domestic cricket more than the international team. We don’t expect Team India to miss a beat due to the abundance of talent. But the same can’t be said about the Delhi Capitals. They will struggle for wins, unless they pick up some good free agents and some players catch fire with some extraordinary form.
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