India's wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has confirmed his participation in Delhi's Ranji Trophy campaign, set to resume on January 23. This marks his first appearance in the tournament since the 2017-18 season. The announcement came shortly after a Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) official indicated that both Pant and Virat Kohli were expected to play in the upcoming matches.
DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma stated, "Rishabh Pant has confirmed that he will be available for selection for Delhi’s Ranji Trophy game against Saurashtra in Rajkot." Pant’s inclusion follows a challenging period, as he was recently dropped from India's T20I squad for the series against England.
Pant's last Ranji Trophy match was in December 2017 during the final against Vidarbha. Currently, Delhi is positioned third in Elite Group D with 14 points, while Saurashtra sits fifth. The return of experienced players like Pant is seen as crucial for the team, especially after the BCCI encouraged players to participate in domestic cricket following a disappointing series loss in Australia.