The Delhi Capitals (DC) have signed Bengal wicketkeeper Abhishek Porel as a replacement for Rishabh Pant, who is currently injured and will not be playing in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, Porel was selected following a series of practice games during a preparatory camp held by the franchise in the national capital last week.
The Capitals coaching team, led by Sourav Ganguly (Director of Cricket) and Ricky Ponting (head coach), monitored the performances of four wicketkeepers during the camp’s match simulation exercises. Apart from Porel, Luvnith Sisodia, Sheldon Jackson and Vivek Singh were also part of the camp. Eventually, the team decided to sign Porel, who impressed with his glove work during his first full season with Bengal in domestic cricket.
However, Porel’s scores across formats could have been more remarkable, as he only managed to score 22 runs in three matches during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Nevertheless, he has performed better in first-class cricket, having scored six half-centuries in 26 innings with a best score of 73.
The report added that although Porel is being signed as Pant’s replacement, Sarfaraz Khan, who has been in sensational form with the bat over the last three domestic seasons, is the front-runner for the wicketkeeper’s role.
The Delhi management has been preparing for Pant’s absence due to his injuries sustained in a car accident in December. They have asked Sarfaraz, who played as the wicketkeeper-batter for Mumbai during the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s, to be ready to take up the wicketkeeper’s role. The team can also use England’s Phil Salt, who was signed for INR 2 crore at this year’s auction, as their wicketkeeper.
DC’s first game of IPL 2023 is on April 1, when they will face Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in an away fixture.
