New Delhi, May 28: Rishabh Pant is a match winner. He can destroy any world-class bowling line-up, if he gets going. He has improved his wicket-keeping skills much better than what it was in his early days of career.
He was firing on all cylinders and was a certainty in India's scheme of things for ODI World Cup 2023. But then, the tragic car accident in 2022 derailed his life for almost two years.
Being a fighter, Rishabh fought back brilliantly. Stunning everyone, he was back on cricket field again.
In Indian Premier League 2024, Rishabh appeared to be in his old self. He was busy leading Delhi Capitals, mesmerising fans with his excellent gloves work behind the stumps and sending the cricket ball out of the boundary regularly as a fearsome middle-order batter.
That is the diminutive powerhouse Rishabh Pant we know for years. Rishabh's accident was one of the most tragic incidents in recent Indian cricketing history with doubts floating around on whether he will ever be able to play cricket again.
The 26-year-old shared his experience after sustaining life-threatening injuries from a horrific accident that left him with multiple fractures and required ligament reconstruction and treatment for a knee injury.
These injuries were critical to his career, but he recently made his comeback in IPL 2024 after a 15-month rehabilitation.
"Self-belief and self-confidence are very important while recovering from an injury because there are people saying all sorts of things around you, and you, as an individual, have to think about what's good for you. The accident was a life-changing experience for me.
"When I got up after it, I wasn't even sure if I would be alive, but God was very kind to save me. I couldn’t even brush my teeth for two months, and for six to seven months, I suffered with unbearable pain. I couldn't go to the airport because I was nervous about facing people in a wheelchair," revealed Rishabh during the latest episode of Dhawan Karenge, a fun talk show hosted by his India teammate Shikhar Dhawan on JioCinema premium.
Even after it was announced that Rishabh will be representing the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League, many questioned whether he will be the same free flowing batter he once was ,or even whether he will be able to be the man behind the stumps again.
But, Rishabh dismissed all questions after a great comeback IPL season scoring 446 runs in 13 innings averaging 40.55 runs at a strike rate of 155.40
"Now that I'm making a comeback in cricket, more than feeling pressure, I’m excited. I feel this is kind of a second life, so I’m excited but also nervous," he said.
Cricket fans in India and across the world would love to see Rishabh Pant in action in the global cricket event later this year. The reason is simple. Rishabh has nearly beaten death to play cricket again. He almost did the impossible to be where he loves to be and do whatever he loves most. That is, to play his favourite sports in front of house full cricket fans in a cricket stadium.
Who knows, if things go in Rishabh's way, then India might return home with the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. That will definitely be a fitting tribute to Rishabh's unbelievable fighting spirits. (With IANS support)
