Delhi Capitals (DC) captain Rishabh Pant is set to make his return to action in the upcoming IPL 2024 after a challenging 14-month recovery journey following a severe car accident in December 2022.
The Indian wicketkeeper-batter suffered multiple injuries in the near-fatal crash and had to undergo a major knee surgery amidst the procedures. Then he had a lengthy rehabilitation period at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Fortunately, he is now gearing up to lead DC again in the IPL.
Sharing his emotions about his long-awaited comeback, Pant expressed his gratitude for simply being alive and expressed a desire to savor every moment on the field.
Recalling the difficult days when he relied on crutches to move around, the DC skipper highlighted the extreme feeling of returning to the field and holding a bat once again after the horrific accident.
Rishabh Pant said on JioCinema: “The bigger picture was that I had been walking using crutches, then I didn’t need them. Then I began walking, then began jogging, and then running. Then batting and then wicketkeeping. I don’t remember those particular dates, but definitely remember the moments.”
The DC skipper continued, “I can’t describe the feeling when I first held a bat post the accident. It was amazing. You get mesmerized because of something. The feeling was like that. I didn’t feel that I was playing for the first time, but it also didn’t feel like I had played before. There was a different sort of energy and feeling.”
On being asked if he feels any pressure returning to DC, Pant said: “The first feeling is I am happy that I am alive. If you are not alive, how can you even think of anything else. So, it’s important to go with the flow and enjoy these moments.”
Speaking about his relationship with MS Dhoni, Pant said: “I am learning from him that one-on-one interactions are different from those on the phone. The transfer of energy is more important. You can’t build that connection on the phone.”
DC will open its IPL 2024 campaign on March 23 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Mohali, and Pant admitted his nervousness ahead of his first assignment in 14 months.
He added, “I am nervous, I am excited. It’s a mixed feeling. So, I don’t want my mind to start straying in too many directions. I want to keep it simple.”
Pat signed off by saying on his journey, “When the journey is so long, you do get frustrated. With us, we are always looking for the destination. You should enjoy the journey. When you go out to practice, then how does the bat feel in your hand, while keeping, how does it feel to have the ball in your gloves. If we start enjoying these things, then we are surrounded by positivity.”
(With Jio Cinema Inputs)
