Rishabh Pant is learnt to have got the fitness certificate from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore to play in this year's IPL for Delhi Capitals.

Returning to the IPL will also mark the keeper-batsman's comeback to competitive cricket after being ruled out for more than a year since meeting with a horrific car accident back in December 2022.

According to a BCCI official: "Pant has got the clearance from the NCA and left two-three days back. He will take a little more time to be at his prime, but he certainly has shown good progress doing the batting and wicketkeeping drills. So, he should be available from the first round itself of the IPL."

The Capitals will be having their pre-IPL camp in Visakhapatnam later this week.

India's T20 specialist Suryakumar Yadav, too, has made fair progress in his recovery from the ankle injury sustained last December during the South Africa tour. "Surya, too, should be fit by the time the IPL begins," the Board official added.

Salt for Knights

Kolkata Knight Riders have signed up Phil Salt in place of experienced English opener Jason Roy, who pulled out citing personal reasons.

Bought at his reserve auction price of Rs 1.5 crore, this will be Salt's second season in the IPL. He had represented the Capitals last year.