IPL 2024: 3 players who can replace Rishabh Pant as wicketkeeper in DC

Flamboyant wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant's return to competitive cricket has been a topic of discussion for a while. The Team India star has been sidelined since a fatal car accident in December 2022. However, Pant's rehabilitation journey has shown significant promise and if the latest reports are to be believed, fans will get to see him on the field soon. 

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As per reports from Cricbuzz, the Indian Cricket Board and Pant's Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Delhi Capitals (DC), have indicated that the 26-year-old is poised to feature in the upcoming season of the cash-rich tournament. However, it is worth noting that even if he participates, he will not be doing wicket-keeping duties but will be a pure batter and leader. 

In that case, the 2020 runners-up will need to find a perfect replacement for Pant to stand behind the stumps. Having said that, let's take a look at three possible replacements for Rishabh Pant as Delhi Capitals' wicketkeeper in IPL 2024.

Also Read: Top 5 bowlers who never won the Purple Cap in Indian Premier League

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#3. Kumar Kushagra

Jharkhand cricketer Kumar Kushagra is another domestic wicketkeeping option for Delhi Capitals. He piqued the interest of multiple franchises in the IPL 2024 auction and eventually DC bought him for Rs 7.20 crore. The 19-year-old was a part of India’s Under-19 World Cup squad in 2020. He was the sixth-highest run-scorer in the Deodhar Trophy last season with 227 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 109.13. Kushagra was impressive in the last Vijay Hazare Trophy as well, hitting 67 off 37 balls to help his team chase down the target of 355 runs against Maharashtra. 

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#2. Tristan Stubbs

The South African youngster made his IPL debut last season with Mumbai Indians. He got only limited opportunities in the star-studded team and failed to make much of an impact. He is a proven talent at the international level and will be hoping for more opportunities with his new franchise in the upcoming edition. If DC can afford an overseas batter who can fire in the middle order, Stubbs would be a good option. 

#1. Abhishek Porel

The young wicketkeeper-batter from Bengal made his IPL debut for Delhi Capitals in the 2023 season as a replacement for Rishabh Pant. He played some initial matches but lost his place when Englishman Philip Salt was included in the XI. However, Salt and Sarfaraz Khan are missing from the squad this season, which means that the franchise may give the responsibility to Porel. The 21-year-old has played 16 first-class, three List A and three T20s in his career so far. He has scored 695 runs at an average of 30.21 and has 58 catches and 8 stumpings in first-class cricket.