Former India and Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player Suresh Raina thinks Rishabh Pant will be wearing the yellow jersey soon.
The comments come after Delhi Capitals (DC) decided to release Pant ahead of the IPL mega auction.
“I met MS Dhoni in Delhi, Pant was also there. I think something big is to happen. Someone will be wearing a yellow jersey soon,” Raina said while talking to Jio Cinema.
It is to be noted that Dhoni was one of the five players retained by CSK. The 43-year-old, however, is in the twilight years of his IPL career as well for long now.
Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in 2020, will be playing as an uncapped player in the upcoming IPL season under the new rule. The rule allows franchises to pick players who have been retired for five years from international cricket as uncapped players.
Pant, India’s go-to wicketkeeper-batter at the moment, will be looked as Dhoni’s long-time replacement if bought by CSK at the auction.
The left-hander had been with DC since he made his IPL debut in 2016 and played 111 matches for them. He has scored 3,284 runs so far at a strike rate of nearly 150 and an average of 35. The batter also has 18 fifties and one hundred to his name with a best of 128 not out.
Pant recently made a comeback to competitive cricket in IPL 2024 after almost 18 months of recovery following his life-threatening accident in December 2022.
He also played a crucial role in T20 World Cup 2024 which followed after the IPL and helped India win the title. Pant also has captaincy experience, having led DC in 43 matches, winning 23 and losing 19 of them and one being a tied game.