New Delhi, March 29: Delhi Capitals are set to sign Bengal wicket-keeper batter Abishek Porel as a replacement for the injured Rishabh Pant for the upcoming IPL 2023. As per an ESPNcricinfo report, Porel's signing comes following a series of practice games at a week-long preparatory camp of the franchise in the national capital. Apart from Porel, the three other uncapped wicketkeepers -- Sheldon Jackson, Luvnith Sisodia and Vivek Singh -- was put through a series of match simulation exercises and were monitored by the Capitals coaching group, headed by director of cricket Sourav Ganguly and head coach Ricky Ponting, over the past week. Jasprit Bumrah Replacement: Mumbai Indians to Decide on Star Pacer’s Replacement for IPL 2023 in Next Couple of Days, Says Rohit Sharma.

Eventually, Capitals decided to go ahead with Porel, who during his first full season with Bengal in domestic cricket, impressed with his glove work. However, he failed to make big scores across formats, scoring just 22 runs in his three outings in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The batter has slightly better returns in first-class cricket, having managed six half-centuries across 26 innings with a best of 73.

The report further said that though Porel comes as Pant's replacement, Sarfaraz Khan, who featured in six games in IPL 2022 and scored 91 runs with a best of 36, is the front-runner to play and keep wickets.

Sarfaraz, who has been in sensational form with the bat over the past three domestic seasons, was asked by the Capitals' management to be ready for the wicketkeeper's role since Pant is still recovering from injuries sustained in a serious car crash in December. IPL 2023: Chris Gayle, AB De Villiers, Suresh Raina, Anil Kumble, Eoin Morgan, Zaheer Khan Part of Expert Panel.

The 25-year old played as the wicket-keeper batter for Mumbai at the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s. The other wicketkeeping option Delhi have is England's Phil Salt, who was signed for his base price of INR 2 crore at this year's auction.

Delhi Capitals begin their campaign on April 1 in an away fixture against Lucknow Super Giants.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 29, 2023 04:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).