Reports: Rishabh Pant strong contender for a spot in India's squad for T20 World Cup

In the race to secure a spot in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 set to be hosted in the USA and the Caribbean, Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has put himself firmly in contention.

After a horrific car accident over a year ago that left him with serious injuries, Pant's return to the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season has caught the eyes of selectors and experts alike.

Pant, 26, survived a near-fatal crash in December 2022 while traveling from Delhi to his hometown of Roorkee. The car he was driving hit a divider and caught fire, but the cricketer managed to escape with the help of the locals. Multiple surgeries and a lengthy rehabilitation process at the National Cricket Academy followed as Pant fought his way back to full fitness.

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Everybody is happy that he's back on the field: Michael Clarke

Now, his performances in the IPL suggest the southpaw is ready to don the Indian colors once again. In five matches, Pant has scored 153 runs, including a 51 against Chennai Super Kings and 55 against Kolkata Knight Riders. Former Australia captain Michael Clarke heaped praises on the cricketer.

"He's a wonderful player and everybody is happy that he's back on the field and we want to see him play for Delhi, but we also want to see him come back and play for India as soon as possible," the former Australia captain told Star Sports.

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Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly also believes Pant is fully fit and performing to the best of his capabilities. "As you all must have seen, he is doing very well, keeping batting. So he's held up well and his form has been fantastic, especially how he has batted in the last two games. So let another week go and I'll be able to answer that question, provided the selectors want to pick him," Ganguly said.

With the T20 World Cup scheduled for June 2024, Pant's timely return to form has given the Indian team management something to think about. He faces stiff competition from the likes of Sanju Samson, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, and Jitesh Sharma, all of whom are eyeing the second wicketkeeper's spot. However, Pant's proven match-winning abilities and the selectors' faith in him could give him the edge.