Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been shortlisted for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award, marking a significant recognition of his inspiring return to the sport after a near-fatal car accident.
This nomination places Pant among global sporting legends, including gymnast Rebeca Andrade, swimmer Ariarne Titmus, ski racer Lara Gut-Behrami, swimmer Caeleb Dressel, and MotoGP star Marc Márquez.
The prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards will take place in Madrid on April 21, where the winners will be announced.
Pant’s journey from the life-threatening accident to international comeback has been nothing short of remarkable. In December 2022, he was involved in a horrific car crash on the Delhi-Dehradun highway, escaping just moments before his vehicle caught fire.
The accident left him with multiple critical injuries, and he missed out on all the action in 2023. The southpaw made his return to competitive action during the IPL 2024 season for Delhi Capitals.
Subsequently, Pant was picked in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad and then he made a triumphant return to Test cricket.
Rishabh Pant expressed his gratitude for the nomination, emphasizing the importance of resilience and self-belief in overcoming adversity.
"I have always believed that the biggest virtue of life is to be grateful for everything God has blessed you with. Over the course of my life, I have focused in being positive and happy in every situation, trusting the power of self-belief and resilience to deal with every challenge. When I survived the near fatal car crash, I realised that I have been fortunate to be a blessed soul, which inspired me to work extremely hard to undo everything and return to the pitch as a better version of myself with greater motivation."
Laureus Ambassador and former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh hailed Pant’s unwavering positivity during his recovery process. "I met with Rishabh in March 2023. At that point, he was well on the road to recovery from his injuries, but also still had a way to go. What struck me most was his relentless positivity. We enjoyed a good laugh in each other's company and it was that generosity of spirit and optimism which carried him through – and saw him cap a remarkable comeback with his return to Test cricket in 2024."
The Laureus World Sports Awards will also recognise outstanding athletes across various categories, with nominees including Max Verstappen, Carlos Alcaraz, Simone Biles, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and Lamine Yamal.
