“Not have given him a hope in hell to play cricket again”: Ravi Shastri calls Rishabh Pant's recovery a 'miracle'

Shastri recalled Pant's sight after the horrific car crash in December 2022.

By Salman Anjum - 17 Nov, 2024

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant had met with a life-threatening car accident in December 2022, and had to undergo multiple surgeries and intensive rehab and recovery.

After spending a lot of time regaining his strength and skills back, the southpaw made his return in IPL 2024, where he captained Delhi Capitals and scored 443 runs in 13 matches to regain his place in the national side.

Pant played a key player in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, delivering crucial performances with the bat. He also impressed everyone with his keeping skills.

Subsequently, Pant made a comeback to the Indian Test team and he is now gearing up for another Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

In an interaction with news.com.au, former India head coach Ravi Shastri opened up on Rishabh Pant’s miraculous recovery while also recalling his sight after the horrific car crash.

“Honestly, if you had seen him, you would not have given him a hope in hell to play cricket again," Shastri said.

"To simply recover and play cricket was a miracle. To then go on and play in a World Cup-winning team and be part of the Test team is a truly remarkable achievement,” he added.

“When you speak to him now, the respect he has for the game is even more. He was nowhere. Suddenly, he is back, and he values that. I have seen him work really, really hard over the past few months to get into the shape he is to play Test cricket," he further remarked.

Rishabh Pant produced a match-winning knock of 89 during the Gabba Test against Australia in 2021, which cemented his place as India's first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in the longest format.

Indian fans will expect more such heroic performances from Pant in the upcoming tour of Australia. The two teams will square off in a five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy this time around, starting November 22 in Perth.

By Salman Anjum - 17 Nov, 2024

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