Indian cricket’s rising star, Rishabh Pant, has made a remarkable comeback after a life-threatening car crash in December 2022. The 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has not only returned to competitive cricket but has also played a pivotal role in India’s recent successes.
Pant’s journey back to the field has been nothing short of inspiring. After sustaining multiple injuries in the accident, he underwent extensive rehabilitation and defied all expectations by making a comeback during the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2023. His impressive performances in the IPL earned him a place in India’s T20 World Cup squad, where he played a key role in the team’s triumph.
With India set to tour Australia for a five-match Test series later this year, Pant’s presence in the middle-order will be crucial. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who coached Pant at Delhi Capitals, has hailed him as a “match-winner” and praised his exceptional talent.
“He’s an infectious character to have around the group. He loves his cricket, he’s a winner, that’s what he is,” Ponting said. “He’s got about nine 90s as well. [MS] Dhoni played for 120 Tests (90) and made 3 or 4 hundreds (6), this is how good this guy (Pant) is. He’s a serious cricketer.”
Ponting was particularly impressed by Pant’s mental resilience and determination to return to cricket as soon as possible. “It’s a remarkable comeback. If you can see even his leg now and listen to the stories he tells about what he confronted during his car accident, just the mental scarring that comes with that but the physical side and the rehab he went through, I didn’t think he would play last year’s IPL (2024),” Ponting said.
Pant’s comeback is a testament to his unwavering spirit and the support he received from his family, friends, and teammates. As India prepares for the upcoming Test series against Australia, Pant will be one of the key players to watch, as he looks to continue his impressive run of form and help India achieve success on foreign soil.
