Page 46 - The Indian EYE 020924

SPORTS FEBRUARY 09, 2024 | The Indian Eye 46

Pant looks to regain fitness cruits - Rabada and Nathan Ellis - a
lot, it’s not the right thing if you are
ahead of IPL forced to play both of them with Sam
Curran. So, they bought Harshal Patel
ndia batter Rishabh Pant on Tues- for 11.75 crores. They were commit-
day provided an injury update as
Ihe looks to regain fitness ahead of ted, they said they wanted this player
at any cost,” the 46-year-old added.
the upcoming Indian Premier League So far in the T20s, Harshal has
(IPL). played 178 matches, in which the
The left-handed wicketkeeper
posted a story of him on Instagram, 33-year-old player has snapped a total
of 209 wickets at an average of 23.88
sweating it out in the gym, as he looks and has leaked runs at an economy of
to make his first appearance on the 8.24. The Sanand-born cricketer has
field of cricket since December 2022. three four-fers and one fifer against
Pant has been sidelined since a
vehicle accident at the end of 2022, his name in this format. With 1,235
runs, an average of above 16 and four
but the wicketkeeper batter is slowly half-centuries, Harshal is also a very
regaining his fitness and is expected capable batter.
to return to the pitch this year.
Harshal’s best bowling figures in
T20s is 5/27. This performance came
The first hint of his return to while playing for Royal Challengers

IPL came back in November Bangalore against the Mumbai In-
dians in the 2021 season of the Indi-
when he attended a Delhi Capi- an Premier League. He became the
tals camp in Kolkata, attended first bowler to claim a 5-wicket haul
against Mumbai Indians in IPL.
by senior support staff of the

team including Sourav Gan- BCCI releases ‘request for
guly (director of cricket), Ricky quotation’ for official IPL
Ponting (head coach), and he Board of Control for Crick-
et in India (BCCI) on Monday
Pravin Amre (assistant coach). Treleased of Request for Quota-

Subsequently, Pant took part in tion (RFQ) for official partner rights
for the Indian Premier League (IPL).
the discussions about the re- Rajasthan Royals Dhruv Jurel plays a shot during the match against Royal Challengers Banga- “The Governing Council of the
tention and release of players lore in the Indian Premier League 2023 (ANI) IPL invites bids from reputed enti-
ties for acquiring the Official Part-
ahead of the auction. ner Rights for the Indian Premier
supporters and the people support During the Indian Premier League,” a BCCI release said on
you and love you, it means a lot, and it League (IPL) auction in Dubai last
Pant was also present in Dubai Monday.
for the mini-auction of the latest edi- really helps in recovery,” he said. year, the Punjab franchise toppled It said the detailed terms and
the Gujarat Titans and the Lucknow
The wicketkeeper-batter also ex-
tion of the IPL. During the event, he pressed that he was “lucky to be alive” Super Giants with a prize of Rs 11.75 conditions governing the tender
talked about his recovery. following the accident. crores for Harshal’s skills. process including eligibility require-
“I think [I am] much better ments, process for submissions of
“The kind of accident I had, [I
[compared to] what I was doing a am] lucky to be alive,” he added. The cricketer-turned-commenta- bids, rights and obligations, are con-
few months ago. Still on recovery to The Board of Control for Cricket tor asserted that PBKS had only one tained in the ‘Request for Quotation’
100 per cent, but hopefully, in a few in India (BCCI), last July provided a Indian bowler- Arsdeep Singh - this (“RFQ”) document which can be
months I will be able to do that. It has fitness update on the batter in a state- might be a reason that the side was taken by depositing a non-refundable
been really amazing because whenev- ment which stated that he had “com- looking for an Indian who could give fee of Rs five lakh plus any applicable
er we are playing, we feel no one loves menced batting as well as keeping in company to a left-arm speedster and Goods and Services Tax.
us. After all, there is always pressure the nets” and had made “significant bowl in the death overs as well. The RFQ can be purchased till
and so many things. Yes, it is a hard progress in his rehabilitation.” “They had an Indian fast bowler February 19. Any interested party
time but I came to know people love Pant has represented DC since in the form of Arshdeep (Singh) but wishing to submit a bid is required to
us, respect us and the kind of appreci- 2016 and scored 2,838 runs in 98 apart from him, all their fast bowlers purchase the RFQ.
ation and concern people have shown matches at an average of 34.61 and a were overseas, whether it was Kagiso Only those satisfying the eligi-
over a while because of my injury,” strike rate of over 147, with a century Rabada, Nathan Ellis or Sam Curran. bility criteria set out in the RFQ and
Pant said in a video posted by his fran- and 15 fifties to his name. So, they needed a partner for Arsh- subject to the other terms and condi-
chise on social media. deep who could provide some help in tions set out shall be eligible to bid,
Pant also said that the love of fans Aakash Chopra on Punjab the death overs or with the new ball,” the release said.
and supporters means a lot to him as Kings acquiring Harshal Patel Chopra said on his YouTube channel. BCCI said it reserves the right to
he continues to go towards 100 per Further, the former India batter cancel or amend the bidding process
cent fitness. ormer India batter Aakash said that they were committed during at any stage in any manner without
“It was heartfelt - crazy for me - Chopra stated that the Punjab Harshal’s bid and the management providing any reason.
because it means a lot as an individu- FKings franchise went for Harshal wanted him in their squad at any cost. BCCI awarded the title spon-
al when you are going through a very Patel as they needed an experienced They bought the right-arm pacer for sorship rights for the Indian Premier
rough time. It is not only physical [re- Indian bowling option to bowl along Rs. 11.75 crores. League (IPL) to TATA Group for
covery], it is mentally also and if your with left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh. “Although I like their overseas re- five years.

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