Rishabh Pant’s availability for Sunday’s clash between Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants at Mullanpur has been the most talked-about team news story of the last 48 hours and the answer is still not entirely clear.

What is clear is that the situation has shifted significantly since the initial alarm bells rang on April 15 when Pant was struck on the left elbow by a sharp short delivery from Josh Hazlewood during the RCB game. He bravely returned to bat at number seven in that match but was clearly in significant distress and did not keep wickets or field in the second innings.

The question since then has been how quickly that elbow can recover and the latest signs are more encouraging than the initial reports suggested.

PBKS vs LSG: Where the injury stands right now

The injury timeline tells a story of gradual improvement. On April 15, Rishabh Pant retired hurt with swelling beginning on the left elbow after the Hazlewood blow.

On April 16, the LSG camp, as per mutilple media reports, confirmed that while initial scans showed no major fracture, the bruising on the bony part of the elbow was causing significant restricted movement and an MRI was pending until the swelling reduced enough to get a clear image.

On April 17 NDTV Sports and other major outlets labeled him a major doubt for the Mullanpur game with analysts including Kris Srikkanth suggesting the injury could sideline him for longer.

Then on April 18 came the development that changed the conversation, Pant was spotted in the nets at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Stadium, suggesting the swelling has reduced significantly and that the LSG medical team led by Patrick Farhart is now testing his range of motion and pain tolerance under load.

A player who cannot move his elbow freely does not get cleared for net sessions. His presence in the nets moves the needle from unlikely to a genuine game-time decision.

PBKS vs LSG: The two obstacles even if he trains well

Even if Pant comes through training in good shape there are two separate questions that need answering before he can be confirmed in the XI.

The first is whether he can bat freely, his trademark high-intent stroke play including the helicopter shots and aggressive pull strokes all require a stable left elbow and any restriction in that movement will show up immediately in a net session.

The second and arguably bigger question is whether he can keep wickets for 20 overs. Squatting repeatedly and catching deliveries at 140 kilometres per hour puts enormous strain on the elbow and even a batter who can get through his own innings might find the keeping duties are a step too far. If Pant is not fully fit behind the stumps LSG may use the Impact Player rule to manage his involvement, with Mukul Choudhary taking the gloves as he did during the RCB game.

PBKS vs LSG: What happens if Rishabh Pant cannot play

If Pant fails his fitness test at the toss on Sunday evening Nicholas Pooran steps into the captaincy, he has already led the side once during the second innings of the RCB game and knows what is expected of him. Pooran would also take on the wicketkeeping duties or share them with Choudhary.

LSG may also bring in Matthew Breetzke to bolster the middle order and compensate for the loss of Pant's left-handed aggression at the top.

LSG currently sit seventh in the table and desperately need a win to prevent their season from slipping away, having Pant available even at 70 or 80 percent fitness is a significant psychological boost for a side that is also dealing with patchy form from Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh. The toss at 7 PM on Sunday will tell you everything.