Delhi Capitals' Rishabh Pant ruled out of IPL 2023

The India wicketkeeper-batter continues to recover from the injuries he suffered as the result of a car crash on December 30, which is expected to lead to a significant period on the sidelines

Rishabh Pant will play no part in the Indian Premier League as he continues to recover from a car crash in Uttarakhand last month.

The 25-year-old continues to undergo treatment for multiple injuries following the incident on December 30 when his vehicle struck a divider and caught fire.

Last week he was airlifted to a hospital in Mumbai, from Max Hospital, where he underwent surgery on tears on his anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament.

Recovery from his injuries - which include cuts to his head and blows to his right wrist, ankle, toe and back - is expected to take many months.

^{Pant is not expected to return until the 50-over World Cup, at the earliest (DAVID ROWLAND/AFP via Getty Images)}

Speaking to the media, new Delhi Capitals director of cricket Sourav Ganguly, the ex-India batter and BCCI president, confirmed the franchise would be without the wicketkeeper-batter for the duration of the 10-team competition which is expected to get underway in late March or early April.

"Rishabh Pant will not be available for the IPL," he told reporters in Kolkata, according to Sports Today. 

"I am in connection with Delhi Capitals. It will be a great IPL (for the team), we will do well but Rishabh Pant’s injury will affect the Delhi Capitals."

Times of India reported over the weekend that the 50-over World Cup on home soil in October and November was the target for Pant's return to competitive action.

^{David Warner is being lined up as a possible replacement as captain (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)}

Should that be the case, it would rule him out of the New Zealand ODIs, the Australia Test and ODI series, a possible World Test Championship final appearance, the West Indies tour, the Asia Cup and return of Australia in September.

It remains to be seen how the Capitals choose to cover for Pant's absence. Australia's David Warner is reportedly being lined up to take over as captain having previously led Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

But who keeps wicket is potentially more complicated. England T20 World Cup Phil Salt is the outstanding option but as an overseas player would potentially affect the balance of the side.

Sarfaraz Khan is understood to be the leading candidate after he kept wicket for Mumbai during their victorious Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign, though he has never taken the gloves in the IPL.